Crime
Interpol Applauds EFCC, Its Collaborative Efforts
Interpol Applauds EFCC, Its Collaborative Efforts
Interpol Applauds EFCC, Its Collaborative Efforts. The International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for its operational effectiveness and collaborative efforts with it in driving activities against national and trans-border financial crimes.
This plaudit was given in Abuja on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 when Interpol top officers, led by Cyril Gout, Executive Director, Police Services, paid a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters.
Speaking at the occasion, Olaolu Adegbite, Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG and Head, Interpol National Central Bureau observed that the EFCC, Nigerian Police Force and other law enforcement agencies are partners.
“We have been working together, supporting one another and whatever we do at the Nigerian Police Force, specifically from the National Central Bureau, the NCB, we always put EFCC first”, he said.
Adegbite specifically commended the EFCC for its local and global strides, pointing out that “ EFCC is a model for us. The EFCC is an international brand. When you say EFCC, the whole world knows that it projects Nigeria in a very positive way.”
Speaking further, he stated that the EFCC has been pivotal to all the Interpol’s operations. “It is part of Project Agric, Project Water, all our cybercrime projects and Project Serengeti that we just concluded.
In all our projects, we always invite EFCC officers and they’ve been doing amazing jobs, working as a collective to make sure that together, we protect our country. The EFCC is one of the first agencies that the NCB linked to the i247 Network. The i247 Network is the global system of communication for Interpol member countries”, he said.
He appreciated Olukoyede for allowing the participation of EFCC representatives at the Interpol’s Silver Working Group. The Silver Notice was created last year specifically to tackle money laundering. He pleaded that the EFCC continues to utilize Interpol’s tools because they are multi-jurisdictional and transnational”
He disclosed that Mr. Gout was in Nigeria for the handover of the West African Police Information System, WAPIS, to West African regional and national authorities .
The System is a digitized information-sharing network among law enforcement agencies to break criminal activities among the 16 ECOWAS states.
“The WAPIS system is supposed to be domiciled with all our law enforcement agencies where they upload data. Criminal databases are key, especially digitized ones like WAPIS in resolving all forms of crimes,” he said.
He further disclosed that West Africa has the unique challenge of crime dispersal. Criminals migrate across regional borders easily but with WAPIS, crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, economic crimes, cyber crimes and terrorism can be tackled through robust information amenities among ECOWAS member nations.
Adegbite recalled that the EFCC played a leading role in operationalizing WAPIS right from the onset. “When the WAPIS programme started I think in 2019, the EFCC became the leader of the WAPIS project. It was the agency which provided the largest data upload from Nigeria and it was very reassuring that it did that”.
In his remark, Gout noted that with the handover of WAPIS to Nigerian law enforcement agencies, it has become a national information system. “It’s a Nigerian Information System to collect and share data that are relevant for the nation’s safety and security.
Whatever information that we have, whatever information that we want to cross-check should be contained or shared within this information system. We see the national information system as the only way that we are interconnecting our information sharing and that we are efficient together. So, it is a necessity that we work together,” he said.
Director of Investigation, EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CE Abdulkarim Chukkol who represented Olukoyede at the occasion, while expressing delight at the visit, noted that the EFCC and INTERPOL have come a long way in synergy and collaboration in multi-dimensional ways that included field operations and human capital development
According to him, since the EFCC was established in 2003 and started operational activities, the INTERPOL has always been a dependable ally. “We’ve done many things with INTERPOL.
We’ve used their tools. It has also enhanced our capacity in many ways. There have been many trainings in which our people benefited. We’ve also done joint operations. I’m also one of the people that have participated in many of those operations both home and abroad.
I would say that the EFCC has actually contributed largely in terms of discovering crime trends, in terms of data, in terms of the analyses that are done. It has also helped in formulating some strategies when it comes to crime prevention, when it comes to how to attack some of these crimes that we are seeing”, he said.
EFCC
Speaking further, Chukkol noted that the scaling up of EFCC activities in the past one year and the globalization of crime trends have made data exchange among law enforcement agencies more compelling.
“You may have noticed that the EFCC has heightened its operations in the past one year or so. In one operation alone, it arrested more than 700 people, including 194 foreign nationals and with the globalization of crime and terrorism today and people moving from one country to another, our work is going to be hindered one way or the other without data exchange. Movement in the ECOWAS sub region is very easy and without visas. So, data sharing is something that will assist us in our work.
The frightening part of it today is that we have seen people coming from other countries, not within the West African region and participating in some of these frauds.
The WAPIS, we believe, is going to do quite a lot for us. We’re going to benefit from it,” he said.
EFCC Arraigns Former SKye Bank Chairman, Tunde Ayeni For N15.6b Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 4, 2026, arraigned a former Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni before Justice Jude Onwuzuruike of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja.
Ayeni was arraigned on a 17-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and conversion of investors’ funds to the tune N15,665,085,429 (Fifteen Billion, Six hundred and Sixty five Million, Eighty five thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-nine Naira (N15,665,085,429).
Prosecution counsel E.E. Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment and prosecution ready for trial.
“We have before the court 17-count charge dated April 28, 2026, we humbly apply that the charge be read to the defendant”, he said.
Eereporter.com
Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc between 21st of October, 2014 and 19th November, 2014 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the aggregate sum of Three billion, Two hundred and One million, Five Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira, Forty two kobo(N3,201,535,429.42) by transferring same to Misa Limited’s account No: 1011295717 and 1011295718 domiciled with Zenith Bank in Violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other regulations and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.
Count five of the charge reads: “That you Tunde Ayeni, whilst being the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Defunct Skye Bank Plc on or about 27th November, 2014, at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and having dominion over depositors’ funds domiciled in the defunct Skye bank Plc’s Suspense Account, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Five Billion, Seventy Eight million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira(N5, 078,550,000) by transferring same to Union Registrar Limited’s Account No: 0003490559 domiciled with Union Bank in violation of the Prudential Guidelines and other Regulations and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 312 of same Act.”
Fraud
Ayeni pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his “not guilty” plea, Iheanacho prayed the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Defence counsel, Ahmed Raji Bashir, SAN, informed the court that the charge was given to the defendant on a public holiday adding that he considered it imperative to inform the court. He also prayed the court to release the defendant to him or return him to the custody of the EFCC.
Justice Onwuzuruike adjourned the matter to May 13, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, while the defendant was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending determination of bail application.
EFCC Arraigns Fake BDC Operator For Alleged N78. 2m Fraud In Onitsha
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Okeke Ejike Callistus, a fake Bureau De Change operator before Justice D. A. Onyefulu of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State.
Callistus was arraigned on a ten-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing to the tune of N78, 295, 000 (Seventy-eight million, Two hundred and Ninety-five thousand Naira).
Count one of the charge reads: “Mr. Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime on the 2nd of May, 2024, at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N62, 745, 000. 00 (Sixty-two million, Seven hundred and Forty-five thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu trading under the name and style of Leatez Enterprises and thereby committed an offence”.
Eereporter.com
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime between the 3rd to the 7th of May, 2024 at Onitsha, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Anambra State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N15, 550, 000. 00 (Fifteen million, Five hundred and Fifty thousand Naira) being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu and thereby committed an offence”.
The offence contravenes Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 36, Anambra State and punishable under Section 353 (12) of the same Law.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him by the Commission and in view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Rotimi Enitan Ajobiewe prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, defence counsel, Hypolite Ohaneche informed the court about a pending bail application before it, moved it and prayed the court to admit his client to bail.
Ajobiewe opposed the bail application on the ground that “there is likelihood of the defendant jumping bail due to the fact that he previously jumped bail granted him by the Commission”.
After listening to both sides, Justice Onyefulu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50million with two sureties. One of them must have a tax clearance certificate. The sureties must be related to the defendant, live within the jurisdiction of the court and have a National identification Number.
EFCC
The defendant was arrested when a petitioner, Ezeugwu Leonard Chinedu, claimed that he gave him the sum of N78, 295, 000 for onward transmission to his business partner in China.
Instead of remitting the money, the defendant remitted some and sent telex copies of “ABA Bank of Cambodia” for the outstanding amount, which upon presentation to the partner in China, were found to be fake.
During the course of investigation, the defendant admitted receiving the said sum but added that he diverted part of the money for his personal use.
Nigerian Navy Storms Dayspring Island, Routs Militants, Demolishes Hideout In Cross River
The Nigerian Navy has escalated its offensive against criminal elements in the maritime domain, delivering decisive blows to militant networks operating along the Calabar–Oron channel in Cross River State.
In a series of aggressive clearance operations, personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) VICTORY and Forward Operating Base (FOB) IBAKA stormed Dayspring Island following the recent surge in kidnappings and related criminal activities.
The operation was anchored on the establishment of a forward security outpost at Idung 1 (Peacock Crossing), providing a tactical foothold for sustained dominance of the creeks and adjoining waterways.
The rapid offensive forced suspected militants to abandon their positions and flee upon contact with advancing naval troops. Maintaining relentless pressure, Nigerian Navy personnel, in conjunction with troops of the Nigerian Army 13 Brigade, secured key waterways and denied the criminals freedom of movement.
Eereporter.com
Exploitation of the area led to the discovery and destruction of a militant hideout linked to a notorious suspect known as “Juju” in the Idung axis. The suspect fled in disarray, abandoning two boats fitted with outboard engines, which were immediately seized. The hideout was subsequently demolished to eliminate its future use as a criminal sanctuary.
Further tightening the noose, troops tracked and apprehended one suspected informant providing support to the militant network. The suspect is currently in custody, undergoing interrogation and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
Nigerian Navy
To consolidate operational gains and choke criminal activity, a 13-hour restriction on maritime movement from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am has been enforced within the operational area.
Prior to the intervention, militant elements operated with impunity, conducting kidnappings and extorting riverine communities. The sustained naval onslaught has now degraded their operational capability, disrupted their logistics, and confined their activities deep within the creeks.
The Nigerian Navy remains resolute and will sustain this aggressive posture, ensuring that all criminal elements are flushed out and the maritime environment remains secure for lawful activities.
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