High Court: Five Bag Seven-year Jail Term in Lagos Over N117million Fraud

Justice K.A. Jose of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Tapa, Lagos, on Thursday, September 3, 2026, convicted and sentenced five persons to seven years imprisonment for their involvement in a N117.7 million fraud involving Chi Limited.
Eereporter.com

The convicts: Yinka Salawu, Joshua Oluremi Daramola, Raji Ahmed, Afolabi Israel Olusegun, and Muraina Olanrewaju Abdullahi, were prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence, and forgery.

One of the counts reads:“that you, Yinka Salawu (aka Mr. Yinka James Christopher), Tinuke Olayinka Salawu (aka Mrs. Yinka James Christopher), Ogbeide Kingsley Stevenson, Joshua Oluremi Daramola, Raji Ahmed, Sule Tijani Adebayo (at large), Afolabi Israel Olusegun, Muraina Olanrewaju Abdullahi, Fred Esumike (at large), and Ismaila Kareem (trading under the name and style of Ismak Ola Nig. Ltd.) (at large), sometime in 2009 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N81,359,922.00 (Eighty-One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira) from Chi Limited under the false pretence that the money was payment for goods and services you supplied and rendered to Chi Limited, which representation you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

In the course of the trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses drawn from the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, banks, and Chi Limited. It also tendered several documentary exhibits to establish its case against the defendants.

At the conclusion of the trial, Justice Jose found the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th defendants guilty on Counts One, Two, and Three and convicted them accordingly. However, the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th defendants were discharged and acquitted.

Following the convictions, the prosecution counsel, M.S. Owede urged the court to invoke Section 11 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act and order the convicts to restitute Chi Limited, the petitioner the sums stated in counts Two and Three, totalling N117,755,061.

Owede also asked the court to order the sale of properties belonging to the 1st convict, with the proceeds paid to Chi Limited. Alternatively, he urged the court to order that the properties be forfeited outrightly to the petitioner.

In her ruling, Justice Jose sentenced each of the five convicts to seven years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine.

“The convicts will be given credit for the periods they have already spent in custody. All periods spent in prison shall be deducted from the seven-year terms imposed by the court,” the judge ruled.

On the issue of restitution, Justice Jose, relying on Section 297 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, ordered the convicts to restitute Chi Limited with the sums contained in the charge.

Court

“All monies already paid shall be deducted from the amounts to be restituted,” Justice Jose added.

The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested for obtaining the sum of N81,359,922.00 (Eighty-One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira) from Chi Limited under the false pretence that the money was payment for goods and services they supplied and rendered to Chi Limited.

They neither delivered the goods and services nor returned the money to the company.
Eereporter.com

Minister of Defence, NiDCOM Chairman, Others Meets Nigerians in Angola, Reassure Growing Economy and Insecurity Being Tackle

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd), has reassured Nigerians in Angola of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national security and addressing the challenges posed by insecurity and instability in the Sahel region.
Eereporter.com

Musa gave the assurance during an engagement with members of the Nigerian community in Luanda, Angola, on the sidelines of the 21st Extra-ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

The engagement was coordinated by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on the sidelines of the AU extraordinary session in Luanda Uganda

The Nigerian delegation to the AU summit was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking to the Nigerian community, Musa acknowledged the security challenges confronting the country, noting that some of them were linked to instability in the Sahel, with its effects spilling across national borders.

He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen Nigeria’s borders and prevent security threats and incursions.

The Minister assured Nigerians in Angola that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to defeating security threats across the country, adding that efforts were ongoing to increase the manpower, equipment and operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

In the same vein, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo said “ Nigeria is growing, the economy is growing and Nigeria is on the path of full recovery “

On the request to have a Nigerian passport production centre in Angola, Tunji-Ojo said he will look into their request so as to ease issuance of passport booklets in the country.

Coordinating the meeting, Dabiri-Erewa, appreciated members of the Nigerian community in Angola for their contributions to Nigeria’s development and for continuing to project the positive image of the country abroad.

She reassured the community that the Federal Government values the contributions, concerns and welfare of Nigerians in the Diaspora, stressing that their voices remain important in shaping policies and interventions that affect them.

Dabiri-Erewa also encouraged Nigerians in Angola to continue to remain united, law-abiding and committed to contributing positively to the development of both Nigeria and their host country.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian community in Angola, the Secretary of the Nigeria Community Association in Angola, Nnaemeka Francis Obi, commended the engagement and highlighted some of the challenges confronting Nigerians in the country.

Obi specifically called for the establishment of a Nigerian passport office in Angola, noting that access to passport and consular services remains a major concern for members of the community.

He also raised concerns over healthcare challenges faced by Nigerians living in Angola and called for greater attention to the welfare and well-being of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the Federal Government delegation to hear directly from Nigerians in Angola and reaffirm its commitment to deepening Diaspora engagement, addressing their concerns and ensuring that Nigerians abroad remain an integral part of the nation’s development agenda.

Minister of Defence, NiDCOM

NiDCOM reiterated that the Federal Government, through relevant agencies, will continue to strengthen its engagement with Nigerians across the globe while working towards responsive solutions to issues affecting their welfare and interests.

E-signed
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, mnipr
Director, Media, Public Relations and Protocols
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abuja.
Eereporter.com

IGP Disu Participates in One-year Remembrance and Public Lecture in Honor of Late IGP Solomon Arase

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, today, 31st August 2026, participated in the public lecture organised to mark the one-year remembrance of the late Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase (Rtd), PhD, CFR, NPM, FCIArb, fdc, who passed away on August 31, 2025.
Eereporter.com

The lecture, themed ‘Policing, Good Governance, and National Development: The Strategic Role of Police Veterans in Building a Secure Nigeria,’ featured guest speakers drawn from retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force and close associates of the late IGP Arase (Rtd), including Professor Etannibi Alemika.

The event was attended by former Inspectors-General of Police, IGP Sunday Ehindero (Rtd) and IGP Mohammed Abubakar (Rtd), alongside other notable dignitaries, including the representative of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State; AIG Yemi Ogunyemilusi (Rtd); the chairman, Board of Trustees, Police Veterans’ Foundation, DIG Mohammed Yesufu (Rtd); the National President, Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Chief Mrs Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu; the widow of the late IGP, Mrs Agharese Arase; past Presidents of POWA; the representative of the Chairman, Police Service Commission; AIG Tunde Mobayo (Rtd), the representative of the Director, Veterans Affairs, Defence Headquarters, C.A. Baushe; and members of the Force Management Team, alongside other senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, serving and retired.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Police Veterans’ Foundation, DIG Mohammed Yesufu (Rtd), described the late IGP as an exceptional leader whose founding and chairmanship of the Foundation reflected his enduring commitment to the welfare of retired police officers. He called for the establishment of a Veterans Affairs Department within the Nigeria Police Force to further advance the Foundation’s mandate and ensure that retired officers continue to benefit from relevant Federal Government programmes and support, in keeping with the legacy of the late IGP Arase.

In his tribute, IGP Disu described the late IGP Arase as a man who understood that policing is, at its core, about protecting people’s lives, respecting their dignity, and building public confidence in the police. He noted that the late IGP’s contributions to policing extended well beyond his years in service, describing him as a leader distinguished by service, intellect, integrity, humanity and sacrifice, whose legacy will continue to endure.

In her goodwill message, the National President, POWA, Chief Mrs Mutiat Disu, commended the late Veteran’s selfless service, citing in particular his unwavering scholarship support for children of fallen officers and his efforts to address the socio-economic challenges faced by retired personnel. She described him as an embodiment of peace, sacrifice, and professionalism under the most trying circumstances.

The event drew wide participation from retired police officers and associates of the late IGP, with discussions centered on good governance, leadership, and the continual growth of the Foundation. Participants appealed for the Police Veterans’ Foundation to be developed into a lasting, lifelong institution. The event concluded with the presentation of awards to beneficiaries, including Mrs Agharese Arase.

IGP Disu

The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its commitment to honoring its officers, particularly veterans who have served the nation with distinction, and reaffirms its dedication to strengthening ties between active and retired personnel of the Force.

CSP Ani Iniedu, anipr
Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Abuja
31st August, 2026
Eereporter.com