Crime
Alleged N2bn NEDC Fraud: Judge Frowns At Defence Team’s Delay Tactics
Alleged N2bn NEDC Fraud: Judge Frowns At Defence Team’s Delay Tactics
Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Kubwa, Abuja, on Friday, April 24, 2026 expressed displeasure at the delay tactics of the defence counsel in the trial of the National Coordinator of Multi-Sectional Crisis Recovery Projects, MCRP, North East Development Commission, NEDC, Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, who is facing prosecution alongside two others, Prince Achem and Aminu Alhaji (at large) for fraud.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, M. S Ibrahim, SAN and J.J Usman, SAN had at the proceedings voiced out their unwillingness to cross-examine the First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Kenneth Ifekwudu Ejiofor for reasons the judge did not find to be cogent.
The Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting the threesome on amended 54 count charge, boarding on fraud, conspiracy, false pretence and forgery to the tune of N2,280,000.00 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty Million Naira).
Eereporter.com
At the stage of cross-examination, the defence counsel told the court that they were not ready to question the witness and rather sought adjournment to enable them apply for certified true copies of exhibits, already tendered.
Justice Ogbonnaya frowned at the adjournment request, describing it as unnecessary as the exhibits tendered were original copies, which their clients didn’t deny their originality. According to the judge, requesting for a certified true copy in place of the original copy, was strange in legal practice, wondering why the deteriorating health of the first defendant was not a thing of concern to the defence team and enough to push them to rather seek the hastening of the progression of the case.
“I see no reason why you cannot cross-examine this witness today. There is no need to request for a certified true copy when the originals are intact and nobody has said they are missing. A certified true copy stands in the stead of the original when it cannot be found. If this request is granted that means there will be two originals. All the documents have been served to the defendants who have not opposed. No court certifies any document that has been admitted. It means that there are two originals. As for your defendant that have not been granted bail, I would have thought that you will want to proceed and finish with this witness but since you want to go home to have adequate time to prepare while this matter lingers, I will grant your request, but people should not say that judges are the ones wasting time. I don’t waste time,” she said.
Fraud
The prosecution witness, who is the victim of the alleged fraud of the defendants, while being led in his testimony by prosecution counsel O.O Adeola, revealed that he was given some letters of contract award by the defendants following an agreement his company entered with the defendants. He also revealed that the second defendant, Prince Achem, addressed some letters to him and his company, requesting some funds which he allegedly provided for him.
The documents in support of this claim were tendered and admitted in court.
Justice Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter till May 14, 21 and June 25, 2026 for continuation of trial.
NPF Arrests Notorious Armed Robbery Syndicate, Recovers Stolen Vehicles In Kaduna
The Nigeria Police Force, through the Force Intelligence Department – Special Tactical Squad (FID-STS), has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the arrest of three (3) notorious armed robbery suspects and the recovery of ten (10) stolen vehicles in Kaduna State.
The suspects; Abubakar Musa (36), Hassan Umar (30), and Joshua Raphael (20), were apprehended on 16th March 2026 in Kaduna State.
Eereporter.com
Preliminary investigations revealed that the principal suspect, Abubakar Musa, is a dismissed Corporal of the Nigerian Army who has been impersonating a serving soldier to evade detection while carrying out armed robbery operations with his accomplices.
Further findings indicate that the syndicate specialized in the theft and movement of stolen vehicles, often removing or altering registration details to conceal their identity and ownership.
The operation led to the recovery of ten (10) vehicles of various brands, including Toyota Hilux trucks, Toyota Corolla cars, a Pontiac Vibe GT, a Honda vehicle, a Lexus car, and a Toyota RAV4 SUV, with several of the vehicles found without registration numbers.
Police
Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover additional exhibits.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, commends the operatives for their professionalism and reiterates the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating criminal activities and ensuring the safety of lives and property.
DCP ANTHONY OKON PLACID psc(+) mni
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
24th April, 2026
Crime
Alleged N395.1m Railway Fraud: Witness Testifies How N268.5m Was Paid Into Ogbole-Inalegwu’s Account
Alleged N395.1m Railway Fraud: Witness Testifies How N268.5m Was Paid Into Ogbole-Inalegwu’s Account
The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, in the trial of Director, Mechanical Services, Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu, narrated before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, how a total sum of N268, 503, 653( Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, Five Hundred and Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Three Naira) was paid into the defendant’s account by different contractors handling projects for the NRC.
Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu is standing trial before the court sequel to his arraignment on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 on a nine-count charge for an alleged ₦395,190,600.00 fraud.
One of the counts against Ogbole-Inalegwu reads: “That you Oche Jerry Ogbole-Inalegwu while serving as the Railway District Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation and transacting under the name of Altech Engineering Services, between 12th February, 2019 and 29th October, 2019 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, committed an offence, to wit; corruption by receiving the cumulative sum of Eleven Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N11,397,500.00) from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), a contractor of the Nigerian Railway Corporation through the bank account of Altech Engineering Services domiciled in Access Bank Plc with account number: 0018021498, on account of the contracts awarded to CCECC during the discharge of your official duties”.
Eereporter.com
The witness, Head, Compliance Unit, Access Bank plc, while being led in evidence by lead prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, narrated how payments were made into the defendant’s account by China Civil Engineering Construction Company , CCECC; Abads Ventures Limited; Alhaji Danjuma Baba; Lovcom Associate; James Iria; Naophil Enterprises; Benches Nig. Limited; Michael Emma; MDCResources; Waliki Nig. Limited; Michael Sonayo; Goa Multilink; Sorchi Marble; KC Services Nig. Limited; Tunde Adewale Odunbanjo; Syero Associate; Luscord International; Tinola Global; Romint Nig. Limited and David Onokhoma. The payments added up to N268, 503, 653. The payments were made between February 12, 2019 and October 8, 2025.
Court
Defence counsel, Modechi Adejoh, while cross-examining the witness, posed questions about narration of transactions and the applicable rules in identifying senders and receivers of payments. The witness responded that banks apply different narrative styles about transactions.
Justice Dada, after discharging the witness and submissions of counsel, adjourned to June 4, 2026 for continuation of trial.
EFCC Arrests Cameroonian For Alleged N1.5bn Bank Fraud In Lagos
Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Ikoyi, Lagos, have arrested a Cameroonian businessman, Bekono Marc Eric, for allegedly defrauding a first-generation bank of about N1.5bn.
EFCC
The 47-year-old suspect, a member of a trans-border syndicate that specialises in credit card fraud, was arrested on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
Eereporter.com
Investigations revealed that members of the syndicate open bank accounts in Nigeria, obtain Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and PINs, and then move to neighbouring countries where they use the cards to carry out fraudulent transactions on accounts belonging to customers with high balances.
The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
-
Crime12 months agoKogi Assembly Considers Law To Regulate Rent, Establish Control Board: Tenancy Law
-
News1 year agoAtiku Reveals Why He Failed To Pick Wike As Running Mate In 2023
-
Akwa Ibom1 year agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New Territorial Chairman, Exco
-
Crime1 year agoFederal High Court Jails 2 For Vandalizing Transformer, Telecom Mast In Kogi
-
News1 year agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New National President, Executive
-
Akwa Ibom1 year agoUmo Eno Commences Payment Of 80,000 Naira Minimum Wage With Arrears
-
News1 year agoSenator Natasha Returns To Senate With Husband Amid Seat Dispute
-
Economy11 months agoKiyosaki: Is Tinubu’s Government Afraid Of Ibrahim Traore?