The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that $7 million recovered by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency be permanently forfeited to the state. Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling on Monday following an application by EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN. The agency had earlier secured an interim order on 27 August freezing the cash, which was…
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for two lawyers accused of forging a legal document to obstruct proceedings against one of them. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie ordered the arrest of Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola on Monday after they failed to appear for their arraignment. The Inspector-General of Police,…
An Ibadan magistrates’ court has granted bail to five men accused of stealing industrial equipment worth ₦11.2 million from a company in the city. The accused — identified as Thomas Akaachir (24), Suleiman Musa (20), Yunusa Mustafa (19), Anas Mohammed (23), and AbdulRahman (22) — are facing charges of conspiracy, breaking in and theft. Inspector…
Nigeria’s top military commander has hailed the sentencing of separatist figure Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court as a significant breakthrough in international efforts to combat terrorism. The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland handed Ekpa a six-year prison term on Monday after finding him guilty of terrorism financing and incitement to violence. Reacting to the…
The Federal High Court in Abuja has warned Mohammed Usman, also known as Khalid Al-Barnawi, the alleged leader of Boko Haram dissident splinter group, Ansaru, and four other suspects, against absenting themselves from court sessions. Justice Emeka Nwite issued the warning on Tuesday following the absence of Al-Barnawi, the 1st defendant, and his lawyer in…
An Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun State on Friday ordered the remand of a 50-year-old woman, Kudirat Kareem, for allegedly exhuming a corpse and disposing of the remains without the family’s consent. Kareem, who has no fixed address, is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, breach of peace and felony. The prosecutor, Insp. Adesina…
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts linked to Mr. Mele Kyari, immediate past Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), over allegations of fraud and money laundering. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte application filed by…
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to refuse bail applications filed by five men accused of carrying out the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in June 2022. The suspects — Idris Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem…
A 45-year-old man appeared in court on Tuesday accused of breaking into a church in Ekiti State and stealing property valued at about ₦560,000 ($370). Prosecutors said Joshua Pius and others at large allegedly burgled the Testimony Church of Embassy Island in Ado-Ekiti, carting away a drum, a fan, bells, a trumpet and a generator…
A Nigerian scavenger has appeared in court accused of vandalising and stealing parts of a railway track in Ibadan, amid growing concerns over infrastructure theft in the country. The defendant, 32-year-old Alimi Saheed, was brought before the Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, charged with stealing E-clips from a railway line belonging to the Nigerian…
