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EFCC Arraigns Four for Alleged N44m Contract Fraud in Maiduguri Court
EFCC Arraigns Four for Alleged N44m Contract Fraud in Maiduguri Court
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned four alleged contract fraudsters before Justice Muhammad Maina of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri.
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The defendants are; Ruth Emmanuel, Ibrahim Dogo Hyelni, Esther Loretta Gabari and Gbenga Makinde Obanewo.
They were arraigned on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, on an eight- count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence, criminal misappropriation, forgery and use of false documents to the tune of N44,700,000.00 (Forty Four Million Seven Hundred Thousand Naira).
Count one reads: “That you Ruth Emmanuel ‘F’, Ibrahim Dogo Hyelni ‘M’, Esther Loretta Gabari ‘F’ and Gbenga Makinde Obanewo ‘M’ on or about December, 2025 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree among yourselves to do illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.”
Count five reads: “That you Ruth Emmanuel ‘F’, Ibrahim Dogo Hyelni ‘M’, Esther Loretta Gabari ‘F’ and Gbenga Makinde Obanewo ‘M’ on or about December, 2025 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the aggregate sum of N 44,700,000.00 (Forty Four Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) from Ali Abatcha through the bank account of Ibrahim Dogo Hyelni with the account number, 0026601703 domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank under the false pretence that the said money is for the execution of a purported contract awarded by Global Health and Social Awareness (Ghasa) foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation to Ruhemd Global Enterprises, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.”
Counsel to the prosecution, S.O Saka, prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendants in a Correctional Centre . While counsel to the first and second defendants, B. Balama, prayed the court to admit the first defendant to bail because of ill-health.
Justice Maina thereafter admitted Emmanuel to bail in the sum of N50m with two sureties residing in Maiduguri and one of the sureties must deposit a title document worth N50m to the Registrar of the court.

Court
The case was adjourned till November 4, 2026 for commencement of trial and the judge remanded the defendants in the Correctional Centre.
The defendants were arrested when they allegedly conspired and collected the aggregate sum of N44.7m from their victim for the execution of a purported contract awarded by Global Health and Social Awareness (GHASA) Foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation to Ruhemd Global Enterprises, a representation which is false.
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Just In: Kwara Assembly Approves State Police Bill
Just In: Kwara Assembly Approves State Police Bill
The Kwara State House of Assembly has approved a proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for establishing the state police.
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The assembly approved the amendment during Tuesday’s plenary after the speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, read a letter from the clerk of the National Assembly on the proposed constitutional amendment.
“The Kwara State House of Assembly has approved the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution to provide a legal framework for the establishment of state police,” a statement issued by Abdulkadir Yusuf, the chief press secretary to Mr Danladi, read.
According to the statement, the approval came after House Leader Mogaji Oba Abdulkadri enumerated the various merits of the proposed amendment to the country’s policing system.
“Other lawmakers who spoke on the constitution amendment opined that the alteration will bring police closer to the people, thereby improving the security of life and property of people across the country,” it added.
The statement noted that Mr Danladi directed the clerk of the House, Ahmed Olayiwola, to communicate the assembly’s decision to the National Assembly for further action.
The approval came amid ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow states to establish their own police services to strengthen security across the country.
The National Assembly had forwarded the proposed constitutional amendment to state legislatures for consideration, as 25 out of the 36 state Houses of Assembly must approve a constitutional alteration before it can proceed to the next stage.
While state policing has been considered necessary to decentralise policing, improve intelligence gathering and enable faster responses to local security threats, including kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes, the proposal has faced criticism over possible abuse by state governors.
The approval by the Kwara assembly marks a significant step in the state government’s efforts to address killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state.

State Police
Meanwhile, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, said last Thursday that the presidency will transmit the National Policing Bill to the National Assembly within two weeks.
“The National Policing Bill is more or less ready for transmission to the National Assembly. We will probably have one more meeting after this to cross the t’s and dot the i’s and make sure every area is covered. So, we are 90% ready. The governors have one or two observations, and we should be ready in about a week or so,” Mr Gbajabiamila said.
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EFCC Boss Olukoyede Charges Students to Use Internet Responsibly, Shun Crimes
EFCC Boss Olukoyede Charges Students to Use Internet Responsibly, Shun Crimes
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has urged students across the country to shun all forms of financial crimes and learn to use the internet responsibly.
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He made the call in Lagos recently at a sensitisation programme organised by Peace College, Iju-Ishaga, with the theme, “Financial Crimes Associated with Students and Youths: Consequences and the Path to Responsible Citizenship.”
Speaking through Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Lovina Emole of the Public Affairs Department, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, Olukoyede emphasized that the internet should be used as a tool for learning, creativity, business, and positive social engagements rather than for committing financial crimes.
“As students and young people, you must learn to use technology responsibly. Protect your personal information, respect the privacy of others, verify online opportunities before engaging with them, and avoid activities that could expose you or others to financial harm,” he said.
The EFCC Chairman noted that young people could acquire various digital skills to earn legitimate income, including digital marketing, software development, graphic design, and data analysis.
“Instead of seeking quick and dishonest ways to make money, invest your time and energy in developing skills that can provide sustainable income and open doors to legitimate opportunities,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of honesty among students, Olukoyede urged them to embrace integrity as a core personal value. According to him, personal integrity would discourage them from stealing, deceiving others, impersonating people, manipulating financial transactions, or exploiting the trust of others for personal gain.
Olukoyede also highlighted the important role schools can play in curbing financial crimes. He stressed the need for educational institutions to incorporate financial literacy, digital citizenship, ethics, and anti-fraud education into their student development programmes.
In his remarks, the Proprietor of the College, Mr. Temitayo Oyekunle, thanked the EFCC for honouring the school’s invitation to sensitise students on the dangers and consequences of involvement in financial crimes.

Olukoyede
He expressed hope that the sensitisation programme has succeeded in equipping the students with the knowledge and awareness needed to shun financial crimes, particularly cybercrime.
“The institution would continue to organise programmes aimed at discouraging financial crimes and promoting responsible conduct among students”, he said.
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Court Jails Former Banker for Fraud in Lagos
Court Jails Former Banker for Fraud in Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, October 19, 2026, secured the conviction of Chukwuebuka Nweke, a former banker for bank fraud before Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
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Investigation revealed that Nweke, on June 21, 2025, in Lagos, accessed a desktop computer assigned to one Emmanuella Anyanwu without lawful authority, thereby facilitating the unauthorised withdrawal of ₦1 million from an account belonging to Leelee Dumbari and domiciled with one of the new generation banks.
The offence is contrary to Section 386(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Upon the conclusion of investigations, Nweke was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC on a one-count charge bordering on the unlawful withdrawal of ₦1 million from Leelee Dumbari’s account with the bank.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, prompting a full trial.
During the trial, the prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir called five witnesses to establish the case against the defendant.

Jail
The defence, however, called one witness.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ijelu found Nweke guilty as charged and sentenced him to pay a fine of ₦1 million within 30 days, failing which he would be remanded in a Correctional Centre for six months.
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