Residents Capture Wanted Armed Robbery Suspect in Enugu, Police Rescue Him From Mob

A suspected armed robber who had been on the police wanted list in Enugu State was severely beaten by an angry mob after he was caught with a pump-action gun at a market square, police sources said.

The suspect, identified as Friday Onwujekwu, popularly known as “Nwatico,” was reportedly apprehended by residents at the Eke Market Square in Akiyi, Umulokpa area of Uzo Uwani Local Government Area on Friday afternoon.

According to a situation report obtained on Sunday, the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on March 13, 2026, after the police received a distress call that the suspect had been captured by members of the public and was being lynched.

Onwujekwu had been declared wanted by the state police command following an earlier attack on a member of a local neighbourhood watch group.

Police sources said that on January 10, 2026, the suspect allegedly attacked Okechukwu Dennis Okoaku at Awkunato Village in Uzo Uwani LGA and dispossessed him of a pump-action gun before fleeing the area.

After months on the run, the suspect was reportedly sighted at the market square while still in possession of the stolen weapon, leading to his capture by residents.

“The suspect who had been on the run was caught at Eke Market Square in Akiyi Umulokpa while armed with the same pump-action gun he earlier stole. He was being lynched by an irate mob before police intervened,” a police source said.

The Divisional Police Officer quickly mobilised a patrol team to the scene, where they rescued the suspect from the mob. However, he had already sustained varying degrees of injuries from the beating.

The suspect was initially rushed to the Police Clinic in Enugu for urgent treatment but was later referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, where he is currently receiving medical care.

Police authorities said the case has been transferred to the Command’s Crack Squad in Enugu for further investigation.

Meanwhile, security sources noted that the general security situation in the state remains calm, with police continuing aggressive patrols and monitoring across communities.

Alleged N1.3b Fraud: Lamido, Son, Family Businesses To Face Fresh Arraignment

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC will on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, arraign the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido before Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, for the commencement of his fresh trial for alleged N1.3 billion fraud.

Lamido will be arraigned alongside his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, as well as their two companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd. He, and his sons committed the alleged fraud through acceptance of kick-backs and fictitious contract awards, while the first defendant was governor from 2007-2015.

The new arraignment date followed the failure of the defendants to present themselves in court on the initial arraignment date of Friday, March 13, 2026.

Defence counsel, Joe Agi, SAN, who apologised for the aborted arraignment claimed that the absence of the defendants was as a result of the arraignment date that got to them at a short notice. He promised to make them available on the April 1 adjourned date.

Meanwhile, prosecution counsel, Chile Okoroma, SAN, expressed dismay at the absence of the defendants in court, stating that they were properly served the arraignment notice and in good time.

He disclosed that the prosecution wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, demanding that the initial trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, now on transfer to Calabar, Cross River State be brought back to Abuja for the trial of the defendants. Justice Lifu stated that the request of the prosecution was an administrative issue that would be determined by the Chief Judge and went ahead fixed April 1 for the new arraignment date.

The EFCC in 2015 charged the defendants before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of Federal High Court, Abuja on 27-count charge, bordering on money laundering, official corruption and abuse of office to the tune of N1.3 billion.

The defendants filed a no‑case submission, after the prosecution had called about 17 witnesses and closed its case, arguing that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to require them to defend themselves. However, in November 2022, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the no-case submission and ordered them to enter their defence.

Rather than do so, the defendants appealed the ruling and in July 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld their no‑case submission and discharged them. The appellate court further held that the Abuja Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter, stating that the trial should have been conducted in Jigawa State, where the alleged offences occurred.

Sule Lamido

In August 2023, EFCC proceeded to the Supreme Court, asking the Apex Court to overturn the ruling of the Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment of a five‑member panel, delivered by Justice Abubakar Umar, in January 16, 2026, set aside the ruling of the Appeal Court and held that the defendants have a case to answer.

It further ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for continuation of trial, thus setting the stage for a fresh arraignment of the defendants.

EFCC Hands Over $225,895, ₦62.79m Recovered Funds To Foreign Victims

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, March 13, 2026, handed over a total sum of $225,895 (Two Hundred and Twenty-Five, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Five United States Dollars) and ₦62,790,000 (Sixty-Two Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira) to foreign victims of fraud from the United States of America and South Africa.

The handover ceremony, which was presided over by the Secretary to the Commission, Mohammed Hammajoda, featured representatives of the victims’ nations, including the Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Mike Fukuda, and the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Lindi Mminele

Commenting on the handover, Hammajoda noted that corruption remained a global menace that required collective efforts to combat.

“Corruption is like a cancer that eats into every fabric of our lives. It is cross-border in nature; therefore, we must join hands collectively to defeat it. Corruption has no borders, and if we do not fight it together, it will consume us all,” he said. He added that the EFCC remained committed to ensuring that recovered proceeds of crime are returned to their rightful owners.

“From our end at the EFCC, we are doing our best. Whatever we recover, we return to the victims, whether individuals, corporate organisations, governments or international victims. We also expect the same gesture from our sister agencies and collaborators across the world,” he said.

Speaking further on collaboration, restitution and asset recovery, Hammajoda urged international partners of the Commission in the United States, Europe, Asia, South Africa and other parts of the world to respond promptly to requests for cooperation.

“Whatever is due to Nigeria, we expect to receive it just as we make recoveries available to you. Whether you are in America, Europe, Asia or Africa, we expect the same cooperation,” he said.

During the ceremony, Fukuda received $7,440 on behalf of American victims of fraud: Drago Boskovic, $15,000, Anh Ngoc Nguyen and three others, Holly Ngo: $175,895 and ₦62,790,000.

Similarly, the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa, Lindi Mminele, alongside the victim’s lawyer, Elisha Sunday, received $50,000 on behalf of Ennis-Flint Africa Limited, a South African company.

Speaking on behalf of the victims, Mminele expressed appreciation to the EFCC for its efforts in recovering and restituting victims.

“I would like to express my gratitude for the good work the EFCC has been doing. South Africa has witnessed that what the Commission is doing is real, as the victim company has experienced and seen the results of the work done,” she said.

She added that the South African High Commission values its longstanding relationship with the EFCC and looks forward to continued cooperation.

Also speaking, the lawyer to the South African victim company, Elisha Sunday, commended the Commission for its relentless efforts in combating economic and financial crimes.

“The best thing that ever happened to this country is the EFCC, because of the good work it is doing. I say this not because I am here, but because I have seen the dedication of the staff of the Commission. Their efforts are helping to restore confidence that people can still do business with Nigerians,” he said.

He also praised the Commission’s role in strengthening Nigeria’s reputation in the global financial system.

On his part, Fukuda commended the EFCC for its commitment to ensuring justice for victims of fraud.

EFCC

“I have seen the effort the EFCC has made in securing restitution for victims, and it is inspiring to me and my organisation.

I want to reaffirm our readiness to continue working with you. Your organisation is truly a world-class agency, and we are honoured to collaborate with you,” he said on behalf of the FBI and the United States Department of Justice.