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Consultant Files Contempt Charge Against Cardoso Over ‘Failure’ To Return N220m: Paris Club Refund

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Consultant Files Contempt Charge Against Cardoso Over ‘Failure’ To Return N220m: Paris Club Refund

Consultant files contempt charge against Cardoso over ‘failure’ to return N220m: Paris Club refund. Olayemi Cardoso, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Kofo Salam-Alada, the apex bank’s director of legal services, are facing contempt proceedings for allegedly failing to fully comply with a supreme court judgment that ordered the release of funds previously forfeited in a case involving Melrose General Services Limited.

Inyang Ekwo, judge of a federal high court in Abuja, has fixed June 4 to hear the application filed by Melrose General Services Limited, a firm involved in the Paris Club refund.

Melrose General Services is one of the firms linked to the controversial Paris Club refund– a settlement involving payments to consultants engaged by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) to help secure reimbursements from the federal government.

SUPREME COURT RULING

In June 2024, the supreme court overturned the interim forfeiture of N1.22 billion and N220 million, which had been frozen following an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The apex court ruled in favour of Melrose, stating that the EFCC failed to prove the funds were proceeds of fraud.

The court ordered the release of the N1,222,384,857.84 in Melrose’s bank account and the N220 million paid by the company to Wasp Networks and Thebe Wellness as a loan and investment.

In the application brought before the federal high court, Melrose claims that despite the ruling of the supreme court, only the N1.22 billion has been refunded, while the outstanding N220 million remains unpaid.

Consequently, the company, through its counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, filed a contempt suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/532/2025 against Cardoso, Salam-Alada, the EFCC, and the minister of finance.

Ojukwu argued that the defendants’ failure to fully comply with the judgment amounts to contempt of court.

On March 27, 2025, Ekwo granted Melrose permission to serve contempt notices (Forms 48 and 49) on Cardoso and Salam-Alada and gave all parties seven days to respond.

At the hearing on April 10, Segun Fiki, who represented Melrose, confirmed that all parties — except the ministry of finance—had responded.

CBN

Cardoso

Abdulfatai Oyedele, counsel to the CBN, filed a preliminary objection and a counter-affidavit. He argued that the supreme court did not order the N220 million to be paid to Melrose but rather to the original recipients — Wasp Network Limited and Thebe Wellness Services.

Oyedele said solicitors for Wasp Network had requested payment of N200 million, while Thebe Wellness had yet to lay claim to their N20 million share. He insisted that the CBN had complied with the judgment and committed no wrongdoing.

M.A. Babatunde, counsel to the EFCC, filed a motion for misjoinder, arguing that the agency should not be a party to the contempt suit.

Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Crime

EFCC Arrests 10 Suspects,  Trucks for  Suspected  Illegal Mining Activities in Kwara

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EFCC Arrests 10 Suspects

EFCC Arrests 10 Suspects,  Trucks for  Suspected  Illegal Mining Activities in Kwara

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested ten individuals suspected of involvement in illegal mining activities along the Ilorin – Ogbomosho axis.

They were arrested on  Sunday, February 1, 2026, following credible intelligence on unlawful mineral excavation and transportation in parts of Kwara and Oyo States.

The suspects, comprising  nine truck drivers and one escort were intercepted and taken into custody in a well -coordinated sting operation. Solid minerals arrested with the suspects  include lithium, tin, and lepidolite.

EFCC Arrests 10 Suspects

EFCC Arrests 10 Suspects

The suspects have no requisite licences, permits, or regulatory approvals for their mining activities.

Other items recovered from the suspects are trucks loaded with the unlawfully mined materials.

The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

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List Of 40 Suspects Detained Over Alleged Plot To Overthrow Tinubu Government

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Tinubu Has Directed Us To Rebuild National Security Architecture

List Of 40 Suspects Detained Over Alleged Plot To Overthrow Tinubu Government

List of 40 suspects detained over alleged plot to overthrow Tinubu Government. Nigerian security agencies have concluded investigations into an alleged coup plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with at least 40 suspects detained in connection with the conspiracy.

The suspects include senior military officers, a police officer, and several civilians accused of roles ranging from reconnaissance and funding to propaganda.

According to a Premium Times report, the arrests followed a covert intelligence operation coordinated by the Army Headquarters and the State Security Service (SSS).

“Thirteen people were apprehended by the SSS, including two military personnel (one retired), one policeman, and ten civilians,” one source said.

In total, 16 serving military officers were detained for direct involvement, while others were linked to funding and incitement. Two civilians were reportedly recruited to incite civil unrest intended to justify the coup.

According to the online newspaper, one of the detained soldiers was said to have escaped custody but was later rearrested by SSS operatives in Bauchi State, according to insider accounts.

Recall that on Monday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that the investigation had been completed and forwarded to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”

“Findings identified several officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” the military said, describing the act as “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

Sources said authorities are now awaiting presidential approval to constitute a court-martial panel to try the indicted soldiers.

Investigations revealed that the coupists initially planned to disrupt the May 29, 2023 handover ceremony from former President Muhammadu Buhari to President Tinubu, but the plan was shelved due to lack of funds and logistics.

The conspiracy was allegedly reactivated in 2025, after former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva purportedly transferred nearly ₦1 billion through multiple Bureau De Change accounts to fund the operation.

Sylva and a retired senior officer identified as Major General Adamu, both accused of bankrolling the plot, are reportedly at large.

Security sources said one of the fugitive suspects has been tracked to a South American country, though his precise location remained undisclosed for security reasons.

Investigators also uncovered a chilling plan to assassinate top government officials, including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

“They were waiting for a day when all of them would be in the country. Wherever they were, they would be assassinated,” one source revealed.

The plot allegedly relied on informants inside the Presidential Villa, who monitored the movements of top officials. The conspirators were to seize control of strategic locations such as the Presidential Villa, Niger Barracks, Armed Forces Complex, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Tinubu Has Directed Us To Rebuild National Security Architecture

Military

Hereunder is the full list of the alleged coupists arrested

MA Sadiq (Brigadier General)  Army  lHeadquarters Garrison

MA Ma’aji (Colonel) Defence Space Administration

S Bappah (Lt. Colonel) 525 Signal Regiment

AA Hayatu (Lt Colonel) 130 Battalion Main, Ogoja, Cross River State

P Dangnap (Lt Colonel) 134 Special Force Battalion

M Almakura (Lt Colonel) 197 Special Force Battalion

AA Jarma (Lt Colonel) CO, 35 Battalion Katsina

SM Gana (Lt Colonel) 115 Task Force Battalion

AD Dauda (Maj) Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji

JM GANAKS (Maj) Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji

AJ Ibrahim (Maj) Army Headquarters’ Department of Policy and Plans

MM Jiddah (Maj) 26 Battalion

MA Usman (Maj) 35 Battalion

D Yusuf (Maj) Forward Operating Base Molai (AHQ SG)

J Iliyasu (Maj) 3 Division Garrison

A Mohammed (Maj) 63 Brigade Garrison

DB Abdullahi (Lt Cdr) Naval Base Abuja

SB Adamu (Sqn Ldr) National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC)

NG Zuzu (Sqn Ldr) Headquarters, Nigeria Air Force Camp

G Binuga (Captain) 1 NMF Brigade

AA Yusuf (Captain) Nigerian Army of the School of Finance and Administration (NASFA)

1 Bello (Captain) 82 Division Garrison

SS Felix (Lt) 81 Division Provost Group

J Aminu (Lt) Headquarters Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR)

Nasiru Ibrahim (WO) 82 Division Garrison

Sanda Usman (Sgt) 167 Special Force Battalion

Mohammed Zubairu (Sgt) 177 Guards Battalion

Momoh Audu (Cpl) 343 Artillery Regiment

Ahmed Ibrahim (Inspector) 24 Police Mobile Force, Presidential Villa

EO Victor (Navy Capt/Rtd) 3 Abraham Avenue off Odili Road, Port Harcourt

Umoru Zekeri Julius Berger, Villa Electrician

Y Nasiru (LCpl) 82 Division Garrison

Sambo Danladi (LCpl) 82 Division Garrison

Abdul Abdullahi (SSgt) 82 Division Garrison

Ali Isah Villa Ambulance Driver

ML Mohammed (Capt) 18 Battalion

UI Yusuf (Wg Cdr) International/Helicopter Flying School, Enugu

IM Gana (Maj Gen Rtd) No 34 A Army Estate, Kubwa, Abuja

Stanley Kingley Amandi Propagandist

Goni Bukar

Security sources confirmed that joint operations involving multiple agencies are underway to dismantle remaining cells and track fleeing suspects. The EFCC and SSS are also interrogating several civilians over alleged roles in funding, logistics, and coordination.

At least 25 military personnel are expected to face trial in connection with the plot, according to sources close to the investigation.

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