Alleged $6.23m Fraud: Police Commissioner Confirms Emefiele Approved Payment To Foreign Election Observers

A Commissioner of Police, Eloho E. Ekpoziakpho, on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, told a Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that investigations into the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of $6.23 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, revealed that the payment was made with the approval of former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Ekpoziakpho, who testified as Prosecution Witness 14, PW14, before Justice Hamza Mu’azu, stated this while giving evidence in the ongoing trial of Emefiele on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office and conspiracy to obtain by false pretence.

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The witness, a Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, said he previously served at the Force Intelligence Department where his duties included intelligence gathering on economic sabotage, terrorism financing and related offences.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, the witness told the court that he participated in the interrogation of the defendant alongside Jim Obazee, the special investigator who led the defendant’s investigation.

“In the course of the investigation, we got intelligence on the 6.23 million dollars that was fraudulently taken from the CBN branch in Abuja that had the governor’s approval when the defendant was the governor. We did an investigation and that was what led to his interrogation. The defendant was investigated,” he said.

Ekpoziakpho further stated that investigations revealed that the money was fraudulently taken, adding that some suspects interrogated during the investigation confessed, while the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, denied requesting payment for foreign election observers.

The witness also identified a document said to have emanated from the SGF and purportedly conveying the approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari for the payment.

Explaining Exhibit PD6, the witness said it was a letter forwarding the President’s approval from the SGF for the CBN to pay $6.23 million to foreign election observers dated January 26, 2023.

He further stated that the document was addressed to Emefiele in his capacity as Governor of the CBN.

“Our findings relating to that document showed that it was honoured. It was treated and the money was paid. We recovered the document from the CBN where the money was cashed,” he said.

The witness also identified Exhibit PD1 as the details of the payment made in dollars, stating that the amount paid was $6.23 million on February 8, 2023.

He further described Exhibit PD2 as a memo from the Director of Banking Services, CBN Abuja, conveying approval and instructing that the $6.23 million be paid.

At that point, defence counsel, Matthew Burkaa, SAN, objected in line with Section 128 of the Evidence Act, arguing that the witness could not give evidence on documents supplied by the prosecution.

Responding, Oyedepo, SAN, argued that the documents being referred to had already been admitted in evidence before the court.

“With profound respect, I have a burden and I urge my learned friend to allow me and my team discharge our duties properly.

Emefiele

We cannot allow the witness to give evidence without backing it up with documents. Section 128 they have referred to did not prevent a witness from giving oral evidence explaining the document in line with the case before the court. That section did not prevent explanation from the document by the investigator,” he said.

In his ruling, Justice Mu’azu held that since the documents were already before the court, the witness could be asked questions on them but could not delve into the contents of the documents.

Earlier in the trial, the witness identified the defendant and also confirmed that he knew Jim Obazee, whom he described as a special investigator appointed by the President to investigate the CBN.

According to him, Obazee requested police officers from the Nigeria Police Force to assist in carrying out the assignment.

“As the officer who led other officers in the special investigation, I assisted in taking statements, interrogating persons who were complicit in one way or another. I also provided intelligence to aid our work,” he said.

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter till July 2 and 3, 2026 for continuation of trial.

Alleged N27b Fraud: EFCC Presents More Witnesses Against Darius Ishaku, Yero

The trial of the former Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku alongside the former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, before Justice S. C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, continued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting the Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Taiwo Johns against them.

The EFCC is prosecuting both defendants on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-seven Billion Naira).

The testimony of the PW3, followed the conclusion of the cross-examination of the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2 Prince Emmanuel Onwuzulike, by the counsel to the second defendant, Samuel Fagade during the proceeding.

In his cross-examination, the PW2 told the court that he had a father and son relationship with Yero, the second defendant, disclosing that it was the second defendant that phoned him and asked him to disburse funds to one Lawal Damilare.

The PW2 also informed the court that he did not report to any law enforcement agency as he received some money from Johns, the PW3 who is a cashier assistant in Taraba State’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, disclosing also that he collected some of the money for his personal use.

“The sum of N3 million deposited is for my business; the sum of N2 million, deposited is for my business; the sum of N10 million, dated November 4, is for my business,” he said.

Further in the cross-examination, he said, “Everything I did was on instruction.”

Following the conclusion of the cross-examination, the PW3 was led in his testimony by prosecution counsel, O. A. Atolagbe. He disclosed that his duty was to assist in the raising of day-to-day vouchers; raising of payment schedules; preparing staff payroll; assisting the cashier in writing payroll cheques and accompanying the cashier to the bank for cashing of money.

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Others he disclosed include, “Payment of emirs and ‘ardos’ and disbursement of cash, if there is a courtesy call and any other duty assigned to me by my immediate bosses, Mr. John Columba, chief cashier Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Babangida Hassan, Director, Finance, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero.”

The PW3 further informed the court that the duty of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was to take care of all the 16 local governments of the state, pay salary and allowances to emirs and chiefs, take good care of the emirs and chiefs, purchase cars for them and handle their medical requirements.

Others are, “Payment of teachers’ salaries, assisting flood disaster victims if it arises, beefing up security in the communities and local governments’ chiefdoms and if there is any other thing pertaining to local government activities,” he said.

EFCC

Asked by the prosecution counsel if he participated in the disbursing of money, he replied in the affirmative. “Yes, sometimes I give it to the ALGON Chairman, or a local government chairman, depending on where the case arises.

The name of the ALGON chairman is Agya and further disclosed that the account name from which the money is disbursed is “2.5 Percent Contingency Account, domiciled in the United Bank of Africa, UBA. The signatories to the account, he said, are the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bello Yero and Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till April 30 for the continuation of the examination of PW3.

Nigerian Navy Arrests Suspected Pipeline Vandals In Bayelsa

The Nigerian Navy, through personnel of Forward Operating Base (FOB) FORMOSO, has recorded a significant operational success in the ongoing fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

On 25 April 2026 at about 0300 hours, FOB FORMOSO personnel, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a well-coordinated raid at Egbama-Angalabiri in Ekeramo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The operation led to the arrest of one Mr. Godwin, also known as “Idiot,” identified as the leader of a notorious pipeline vandalism syndicate operating within the Clough Creek axis.

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The successful operation followed sustained intelligence and surveillance which confirmed the suspect’s involvement in recent attacks on critical oil and gas infrastructure, as well as details of his residence and movement patterns. The suspect was apprehended at a nearby night market where he was reportedly extorting illegal levies from traders.

During a follow-on operation to search his residence, naval personnel encountered resistance from armed members of the syndicate. The situation was swiftly brought under control through a coordinated tactical response, forcing the assailants to withdraw.

A search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of two handheld radios and other technical tools used in illegal activities. Further exploitation of intelligence obtained from the suspect resulted in the arrest of another individual, Mr. Happiness, believed to be an associate, as well as the recovery of one pump-action gun.

Nigerian Navy

The arrested suspects have been handed over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigation and prosecution.

The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in its mandate to protect the nation’s maritime domain and critical national assets.

The Service will continue to sustain aggressive operations against all forms of economic sabotage in