Crime
EFCC Appeals Acquittal Of NNDC Director, Omatsuli, Three Others In Alleged N3.6Bn Fraud
EFCC Appeals Acquittal Of NNDC Director, Omatsuli, Three Others In Alleged N3.6Bn Fraud
Alleged N3.6Bn fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, Lagos seeking the setting aside of the judgment of Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos acquitting and discharging a former Executive Director of Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli alongside Francis Momoh, Don Parker Properties Limited and Building Associates Limited over an alleged ₦3.6 billion fraud.
In a Notice of Appeal filed on Thursday, April 9, 2026, the EFCC, through its counsel, Ekene Iheanacho, SAN, faulted the judgment of the trial court and based its appeal at the Court of Appeal on seven grounds. The Commission is also seeking reliefs set out in the Appeal.
Justice Osiagor on March 3, 2026 cleared all the four defendants of money laundering allegations stating that the prosecution did not sufficiently establish the offences contained in the 46-count charge filed against them by the EFCC, despite the volume of evidence presented during the retrial, including testimonies from 16 witnesses and 34 exhibits.
The 1st defendant had earlier been acquitted in 2020, at No- case submission while the court held that the other defendants alleged to have assisted him in laundering the funds were directed to enter their defences. This prompted the EFCC to appeal to the Court of Appeal and the appellate court set aside the ruling of the trial court. The court also dismissed the appeal of the other defendants who had also appealed against the ruling of the trial court which held that they had cases to answer.
In its judgment, the Court of Appeal found that the payment of the sum of N3, 645, 000,000.00 from Prosecuting Witness 4, PW4, who was a contractor to NDDC to the 1st defendant, Omatsuli, through his friend’s company, the Building Associates Ltd, the 4th defendant, amounted to an act of gratification for which the defendants needed to make explanations. The court made references to the provisions of Section 8, 17, 19 of the ICPC Act and the 5th schedule to the Constitution.
The Notice of Appeal filed by the Commission alleged that the new trial Judge, Justice Osiagor who took over the proceeding following the retirement of the former trial Judge, Justice Saidu, relied on the record of the previous trial but disregarded the specific findings made by the Court of Appeal on the testimony of the prosecution witness. It is the position of the Commission in its Notice of Appeal that the trial Judge, Osiagor did not properly evaluate the evidence before it. That the trial judge misconceived the law and the evidence lead by both PW4 and PW15 during trial which showed that PW15 who was also a director at NDDC approached PW4 , a contractor to the Commission, with the request to appreciate the members of the Board whenever PW4 was paid his fees by the Board so as to enable them sought out restive youths in the Niger Delta area.
Accordingly , PW4 paid money to members of the Board including the 1st defendant who received his own through the 4th defendant’s bank account. The 1st defendant who was also a signatory to the account of NDDC upon receipt of the funds, applied most of the funds in the purchase of choice properties in Lagos in the name of the 2nd defendant which is his private company. That the N3.6bn was never used for any youth- related matters. Infact, the properties acquired with the funds have been forfeited in a Non-conviction based asset forfeiture on the strength of the same evidence adduced during trial. That the forfeiture was also affirmed by the Court of Appeal in the civil case.
The Commission further contends that the trial Judge did not make reference to any of the anti corruption legislations like the ICPC Act, 5th Schedule to the Constitution, CCB Act in determining whether the money paid was proceeds of unlawful act. That the trial judge failed to appreciate the case of the prosecution on the nature of the gratuitous payment received by the 1st defendant.
EFCC
It was also part of the grouse of the Commission that evidence was led by PW4 and PW13 with documents in support, which showed that in order to cover up the illicit act, the 1st defendant withdrew as a director in the 2nd defendant and pleaded with PW4 to issue a sub contract document to cover the N3.6bn payment.
It stated that these pieces of evidence were neither contradicted as found by the Court of Appeal but the trial Judge disregarded those findings which were commended to the court.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the Appeal.
Navy Foils Reactivation of Illegal Refining Sites in Rivers, Recovers 360 Litres AGO
The Nigerian Navy has foiled an attempt to reactivate an illegal refining site in Rivers State, while recovering approximately 350 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) during an operation in the Okolomade general area of Abua/Odual Local Government Area.
Eereporter.com
The operation by NNS SOROH on 6 September 2026 followed credible intelligence on the reactivation of illegal refining activities in the area. Suspected operators fled on sighting the naval team, leaving behind the illegally refined product and two wheelbarrows believed to have been used in its movement.
In a related operation, the Base revisited a previously disrupted illegal refining site in the Ogbogolo area and rendered remaining metallic ovens, storage tanks and associated infrastructure unusable, effectively closing avenues for their further exploitation by criminal operators.
The interventions demonstrate a shift from merely disrupting illegal refining activities to denying operators the infrastructure required to repeatedly revive their operations, thereby constraining the resilience of illicit petroleum networks in the area.
Nigerian Navy
ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO
Navy Captain
Director Naval Information
Nigerian Navy
Eereporter.com
Olukoyede Tasks Teenagers to Shun Cyber Crime , Embrace Integrity
The Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede has charged teenagers across the country to shun cyber crime and other offences, urging them to embrace integrity, hard work and legitimate means of achieving success.
Eereporter.com
He gave the charge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday, September 7, 2026 on the topic “Internet Fraud-Dangers, Consequences and Godly Alternatives”.
Represented by Superintendent of EFCC, SE Akpos Mezeh-Ekisowei, Olukoyede stated that internet fraud involved the use gadgets to deceive people for financial gains and may be linked to such activities as online investment scams, romance scams, identity theft, social media impersonation, online shopping scams, cryptocurrency scams and fraudulent job offers, admission scam, among others.
“The desire for quick wealth, peer pressure, social media influence and economic hardship are some of the factors that could lure young people into internet fraud. Do not fall into peer pressure and if you do after this sensitization from the EFCC, then you must face the law”, he said.
He however cautioned the teenagers against comparing themselves with individuals who display wealth and luxury on social media, stressing that “not everyone displaying wealth is successful, and not everyone successful displays wealth.”
The Chairman further warned that internet fraud has far-reaching consequences, including the destruction of character and reputation, harm to innocent victims, involvement in other criminal activities and the loss of future opportunities.
On the legal consequences of cybercrime, Olukoyede stressed that perpetrators of fraud should not assume that their activities could remain undetected, noting that law enforcement agencies like the EFCC deploys digital forensics, financial intelligence, bank records, device analysis and international cooperation in tracking fraudulent activities.
The teenagers were therefore reminded that involvement in internet fraud could lead to arrest, investigation, prosecution, conviction, imprisonment and forfeiture of proceeds of crime.
Olukoyede Charges Students
The EFCC boss also highlighted the impact of internet fraud on families, noting that the consequences of a young person’s criminal activities extend beyond the individual to parents, siblings and the wider family.
“The family’s reputation may be affected. Many parents spend years building a name that can be damaged by a reckless decision’, he said.
Rather than using technology to defraud others, Olukoyede urged the teenagers to harness it for legitimate purposes by acquiring digital skills such as programming, cybersecurity, digital marketing, graphic design, video editing, content creation, artificial intelligence and data analysis.
Also, he encouraged the teenagers to develop entrepreneurial skills, discover their talents and purpose, choose their friends wisely, seek positive mentors and focus on long-term success rather than instant gratification.
“The internet offers countless legitimate opportunities and these skills can generate income locally and internationally”, he said.
Emphasising the importance of integrity, the EFCC boss urged the teenagers to understand that genuine success requires patience, discipline and hard work.
On her part, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, ACN Ugochukwu Olisaemeka-Iyi from National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA sensitised the teenagers on the dangers of substance and drug abuse, with emphasis on the influence of family, culture, peer pressure and others . She urged them never to experiment with any substance offered to them, warning that “A trial might condemn you”.
She encouraged the teenagers to confidently say “no” to drugs and other harmful substances rather than giving a hesitant or shy refusal. She further charged them to remain connected to God, stressing that excellence is possible when young people build their lives on a relationship with God.
The Teenagers Ministry Coordinator, Godknows Ogbonna expressed appreciation to the EFCC and NDLEA for the sensitization.
Eereporter.com
Court of Appeal Affirms Ex-NEXIM Bank MD, Orya’s 490 Years Jail Term for N2.4b Fraud
Justice Muhammed Danjuma of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, affirmed the conviction and sentence of a former Managing Director of Nigeria Export Import Bank, NEXIM, Robert Orya by Justice F.E. Messiri of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja.
Eereporter.com
Orya was convicted and sentenced to 490 years imprisonment for bank fraud on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
The convict was arraigned in 2021 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 49-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and advance fee fraud to the tune of N2.4 billion.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, he approached the Appellate court for reprieve.
Leading two other Justices, Ntong Festus Ntong and Ele Ejo Enenche on Tuesday to deliver a unanimous judgment, Justice Muhammed stated that, “I have considered all briefs filed by counsel and have gone through the record of the trial court and adopted it and the issues as formulated by this appellate court in resolving this appeal. I looked at each and every issue and in my final analysis, all the issues formulated for the determination of this appeal are resolved in favor of the respondent and against the appellant.
This appeal is devoid of any merit and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory delivered on February 5, 2026 in charge number FSC/SC/CS/487/2021 is hereby affirmed.”
The trial judge, Justice Messiri, had earlier judged that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt and found the defendant guilty as charged on all the 49 counts and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on each, totaling 490 years. The sentences, however, are to run concurrently.
Appeal Court
The convict served as the Managing Director of NEXIM Bank between 2009 and 2016. He was appointed to the position on August 14, 2009 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and reappointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on August 18, 2014.
Eereporter.com
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