Crime
Court Adjourns To Rule On Admissibility Of Deed Of Assignment, Irrevocable Power Of Attorney: Yahaya Bello
Court Adjourns To Rule On Admissibility Of Deed Of Assignment, Irrevocable Power Of Attorney: Yahaya Bello
Court Adjourns to rule on admissibility of deed of assignment, irrevocable power of attorney: Yahaya Bello. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, March 9, 2026 adjourned to rule on the admissibility of a Deed of Assignment and an Irrevocable Power of Attorney tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The judge fixed the date after listening to extensive arguments from counsel over the admissibility of the two documents relating to the sale of Plot 1160, Cadastral Zone, Gwarimpa 2, Abuja, allegedly sold for ₦100 million.
Bello is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.
The controversy arose when prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN, sought to tender the Deed of Assignment and an Irrevocable Power of Attorney through PW10, Mahmoud Abdulaziz, Chief Accountant of Dantata & Sawoe Construction Limited.
Abdulaziz had testified that the company sold the property measuring 8,240.72 square metres to Azba Real Estate Limited for ₦100 million, paid in tranches of ₦70 million on February 17, 2021, ₦10 million on February 19, and ₦20 million on February 22, 2021, via electronic transfers into the company’s Keystone Bank account.
He stated that Maigari Murtala made the transfers, while the Deed of Assignment was executed between Dantata & Sawoe and Azba Real Estate Limited, signed by Mubarak Dantata, Nasiru Dantata and Ali Bello. He further told the court that an Irrevocable Power of Attorney was executed between Mubarak Dantata and Ali Bello, and that the documents were submitted to the EFCC during investigation.
However, defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, objected to their admissibility on three grounds.
“My lord, the first document is an irrevocable power of attorney and the second is a deed of assignment in respect of the same land. These are registrable instruments relating to title and ought to have been registered,” he said.
He submitted that only Certified True Copies, CTC, from the appropriate land registry would be admissible, contending that the EFCC was not the custodian of land documents and that the purported certification by an EFCC official was contrary to Section 114 of the Evidence Act.
“On these three grounds, my lord, these documents are inadmissible,” Daudu maintained.
Responding, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, described the objection as a misconception of the law.
“The evidence of the witness is unambiguous. He has led oral evidence of the transaction and receipt of money. These documents are being tendered to anchor that oral evidence,” he said.
He stressed that the case was a criminal prosecution for money laundering and not a civil dispute over land title.
“This is about financial crimes and the flow of funds. We are not tendering these documents to prove title or ownership. This court does not have jurisdiction to determine title to land,” he argued.
Pinheiro further submitted that a document inadmissible for one purpose may be admissible for another, and that once a private document is submitted to a public officer during investigation, it becomes a public document in custody and may be certified.
Citing Audu v. FRN (2025) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1984) 61, he contended that the Supreme Court had settled the issue.
In reply, Daudu insisted that no specific purpose had been clearly stated for the tendering of the documents other than to juxtapose the names of the payer and the signatory.
“Even if it is to be admitted as receipt, there must be a consideration clause; otherwise, it is inadmissible,” he argued.
Pinheiro countered that the Deed of Assignment contained a consideration clause and urged the court to admit both documents.
After hearing both sides, Justice Nwite adjourned till March 9, 2026, for ruling on their admissibility and continuation of trial.
Earlier in the proceedings, the defence informed the court of a pending application seeking leave to vacate an earlier order granting the defendant permission to travel for lesser Hajj.
Daudu told the court that both parties had filed applications and were engaged in discussions, requesting time to report on the outcome.
“We have advanced in discussions. If my lord can grant us till the 9th March just to report on whether this application would be necessary,” he said.
Pinheiro confirmed that discussions had taken place and that the prosecution would respond to issues relating to a Red Notice.
“My lord, I confirm we had discussions. Monday is convenient. We will respond to the application on the Red Notice,” he said, adding that “all the airports in the Middle East are closed.”
Under cross-examination of PW8, an FCMB official, the witness confirmed that Exhibit 37 was the statement of account of Kunfayakun Global Limited from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2024.
He told the court he was neither the account officer nor relationship manager and had no direct relationship with the account signatories.
He confirmed a ₦100 million inflow on December 15 from Keyless Nature Limited but said he could not determine the purpose of the transfer.
On a ₦400 million RTGS inflow on December 17, 2021, he explained that RTGS means Real Time Gross Settlement, but maintained he did not know the business relationship between the parties.
Court
Similarly, he confirmed a ₦600 million inflow from Ejadams on February 18, 2022, but said he did not know the purpose of the transaction.
He was subsequently discharged.
PW9, Oluwafemi Victoria, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank, testified under subpoena admitted as Exhibit 38, while statements of account and certificate of identification were admitted as Exhibits 39 and 40.
She confirmed multiple ₦10 million inflows into JIT Limited’s account on November 23 and 24, 2021, from Musa Nura, Yusuf Mubarak and Maishanu Global Industry, totaling ₦150 million.
On SSP Foods Limited’s account, she identified 10 credit entries on November 24, 2021, including ₦70 million from Inganchi Synergy and ₦70 million from Murtala Maigari, among others, amounting to ₦250 million.
Under cross-examination, she stated she was neither the account officer nor relationship manager and did not know the business relationships behind the transactions.
The matter continues on March 9, 2026.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity.
Kaduna Women, Youths Rally In Support Of El-Rufai’s Probe
Kaduna women, youths rally in support of El-Rufai’s probe. Mr Auta urged authorities to go a step further by investigating Mr El-Rufai’s repeated resort to divisive rhetoric along religious and ethnic lines.
Women and youths under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress Unity Forum in Kaduna held a rally supporting the ongoing investigation of the embattled former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Mr El-Rufai is being investigated over his alleged involvement in wiretapping the national security adviser’s phone lines, as well as financial infractions allegedly committed during his tenure as governor.
Some of the youths and women carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Tapping NSA phones is criminal’, ‘ICPC, EFCC, save our treasury’, ‘Southern Kaduna people do not support evil’ and ‘ICPC, SSS, carry on’, among others.
Speaking at the rally in Kafanchan, Edward Auta, the forum’s convener, said the ongoing legal processes against Mr El-Rufai will further strengthen transparency and, if convicted, enable the recovery of public resources for the benefit of the people.
“Without a doubt, holding El-Rufa’i accountable will demonstrate clearly that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, there are no sacred cows and no one is above the law,” he stated.
Mr Auta urged authorities to go a step further by investigating Mr El-Rufai’s repeated resort to divisive rhetoric along religious and ethnic lines.
He distanced the forum from a pro-El-Rufai rally held last Wednesday by a group in Southern Kaduna, which claimed solidarity with the former governor.
“No fair-minded person from Southern Kaduna who witnessed the pervasive insecurity, wanton acts of corruption, and deepening polarisation under Elrufa’i’s administration will question the courage of our nation’s anti-graft and security agencies to investigate and interrogate him.
“These agencies are carrying out their constitutional mandate to ensure accountability and to recover public funds allegedly diverted during his tenure as governor,” he said.
According to him, Darius Kurah and his associates, who gathered in Kafanchan on February 25, neither possess the authority to speak on behalf of our people nor reflect the genuine sentiments of the zone.
El-Rufai
“Contrary to their claims, the overwhelming majority of our people support the efforts of the ICPC, EFCC, SSS, and all relevant institutions working to ensure that due process is followed and accountability is achieved. Indeed, many believe these actions could have come sooner. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, ‘better late than never’,” he said.
Mr Auta noted with satisfaction that Southern Kaduna had entered a new era of inclusion and purposeful governance under Governor Uba Sani and President Bola Tinubu.
Lagos EFCC Arraigns Two Bankers For Alleged $306,667.81, €50,250 Fraud
Lagos EFCC arraigns two bankers for Alleged $306,667.81, €50,250 fraud. The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, arraigned two bank officials, Bakare Oladimeji Surajudeen and James Olukayode Imokwede, over an alleged $306,667.81 and €50,250 fraud before Justice Ismaila Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
The defendants, who are both top officials of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged stealing and retention of stolen property to the tune of $306,667.81 and €50,250.
The petitioner, FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, alleged that an internal audit uncovered unauthorized debits totaling $306,667.81 and €50,250, equivalent to N527,406,916.66 (Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Sixty Six kobo),
from its Letters of Credit (LC) payable accounts.
Investigations revealed that the defendants processed fraudulent transfers through the SWIFT platform to third parties.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, BAKARE OLADIMEJI SURAJUDEEN and JAMES OLUKAYODE IMOKWEDE, sometime in 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly took the sum of N527,406,916.66 (Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven Million, Four Hundred and Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Naira, Sixty Six kobo), property of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited.”
Another count reads:
“That you BAKARE OLADIMEJI SURAJUDEEN AND JAMES Olukayode Imokwede sometime in 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly took sum of $306,667. 81 (Three Hundred and Six Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty Seven dollars, Eighty one cents) property of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited”.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against them.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, H. U. Kofarnaisa, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in a Correctional facility pending trial.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Oluwaseun Akintunde and Olajide S. Onasanya, informed the court that bail applications had been filed on behalf of the defendants and also urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
They also prayed that the defendants be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
The prosecution counsel, however, opposed the prayers of the defence seeking the remand of the defendants in the EFCC custody, saying that “the EFCC detention facilities are overstretched.”
After listening to both parties, Justice Ijelu granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
The court ordered that one of the sureties must be a relative, who is gainfully employed.
EFCC
The sureties must provide evidence of tax payment in the last three years and must show proof of livelihood, with their residences verified.
The defendants were ordered to deposit their international passports with the court, and must not travel outside the country without the leave of the court.
The judge subsequently remanded the defendants in a Correctional facility pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Justice Ijelu adjourned the matter till March 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
NDLEA Arrests Wanted ‘Drug Kingpin’ Who Has Been In Hiding For 13 Years
NDLEA arrests wanted ‘drug kingpin’ who has been in hiding for 13 years. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Reginald Peter Chidiebere, “a wanted drug kingpin”, who went into hiding for 13 years.
He was nabbed over cocaine and heroin shipments linked to him.
In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said Chidiebere was first arrested in 2013 for cocaine trafficking and arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the federal high court, Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/187c/2923
He, however, jumped bail after being released and went underground.
His name resurfaced in February 2024 as one of the masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilogrammes of heroin from South Africa.
The consignment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
“A follow-up operation was carried out on 19th February 2024 at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites, located at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos where an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin was recovered from one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod. As a result, Chidiebere went underground,” the statement reads.
The agency subsequently secured an interim forfeiture of the hotel and blocked bank accounts traced to him.
“Following these developments, Chidiebere could no longer sustain himself in hiding, prompting his surrender to the agency on 13th February 2026,” Babafemi said.
He has since been taken into custody to face “his pending charges for which he jumped bail in 2013 and fresh charges based on the 2024 heroin consignments linked to him”.
Reacting to the arrest, Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, said the agency remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks and bringing offenders to justice.
“I commend our officers and men for their persistence and professionalism in this operation,” he said.
NDLEA
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Imo state on February 25, dismantled “a clandestine laboratory tucked in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba local government area” where 18.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine were recovered along with “large quantity of precursor chemicals and equipment used in the production of the illicit substance”.
At the Seme border in Lagos, officers on February 27, intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, who concealed “5,000 pills of tramadol in her luggage”.
In a separate operation, “1,040 kilograms of skunk” were recovered from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos.
Other seizures recorded across states included 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup recovered in Kano, 87.4 kilogrammes of skunk intercepted in Katsina, and 18.085 kilogrammes of skunk seized in Osun.
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