She was arraigned before Justice D. I. Dipeolu on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and conversion of funds.

During proceedings, defence counsel, P. I. Nwafor, informed the court that part of the disputed funds had been returned to the complainant.

He told the court that N24 million had already been refunded and requested an adjournment to allow parties conclude negotiations over the outstanding balance, noting that efforts were ongoing toward possible settlement.

However, the prosecution counsel, S. I. Suleiman, opposed the request, stating that the Federal Government remained the nominal complainant and that the matter before the court was arraignment.

He urged the court to proceed with the defendant’s plea.

In his ruling, Justice D. I. Dipeolu held that discussions between parties could continue even while proceedings were ongoing, but maintained that the defendant must take her plea.

According to the charge sheet, the defendant was alleged to have received N36 million from one Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, for the lease of a property in Lekki, Lagos, an arrangement prosecutors claimed was false.

She was also accused of unlawfully converting the said sum to personal use.

The offences are said to contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act as well as the Criminal Code Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read in court.

Following her plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and asked that she be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.

Her counsel, however, urged the court to allow her remain in EFCC custody while bail arrangements were being concluded, noting that the charge had only been served a day earlier.

Justice Dipeolu ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till June 5, 2026, for commencement of trial.

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The development was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Tahir Balarabe, and issued to newsmen on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, in Kano.

According to CSC Balarabe, the suspects, both male and female passengers, arrived in Kano from Dubai on Friday, 8 May 2026, aboard Ethiopian Airlines.

“Both travellers initially declared 130,000 dollars and 180,000 dollars respectively. However, further non-intrusive baggage profiling raised suspicion, prompting officers to subject their luggage to secondary examination,” he stated.

The additional search, according to him, uncovered another 151,600 dollars concealed and undeclared, bringing the total intercepted sum to 461,600 US dollars.

Speaking during the formal handover of the suspects and exhibits, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, said the interception reflects the Service’s growing vigilance against illicit financial flows through Nigeria’s borders.

DC Adamu said the suspects violated relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, stressing that the law places clear obligations on travellers to make honest currency declarations.

“The suspects contravened Section 55(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. In line with Section 4(f) of the same Act, we are formally handing over the suspects, the intercepted currencies, and all relevant travel documents to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation,” DC Adamu said.

He commended the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for sustained operational cooperation, and he also appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for strengthening officers through continuous training and intelligence-driven enforcement.

Receiving the suspects and exhibits on behalf of the Commission, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Kano, Friday Ebelo, praised the professionalism displayed by Customs officers during the operation.

Ebelo said the non-declaration or false declaration of currencies above the statutory threshold remains a serious financial crime under Nigerian law.

“Any traveller carrying funds above 10,000 dollars is expected by law to declare it. Anything short of that raises serious concerns about money laundering. I want to assure you that this case will be pursued to its logical conclusion,” Ebelo said.

The suspects, the intercepted currencies and other relevant documents were formally handed over to the EFCC on Monday, 11 May 2026, at the Command Headquarters in Bompai, Kano.

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Mamman, who was absent in court, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503,73( Thirty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy Three kobo).

Justice Omotosho convicted him last week on all the 12-count charges preferred against him by the EFCC but deferred his sentence to Wednesday.

Count one of the charges reads:

“That you, SALEH MAMIVIAN {Male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, whilst you were the Minister of Power conspired with other officials of your Ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of =N=33,804,830,503.73

{Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo) through various private companies which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Count two reads:

“That you, SALEH MAMMAN (Male), sometime in December 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, conspired with SAMSON BITRUS to make a cash payment of US$665, 700:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD (acting through Mohammed Asheik Jidda), without going through a financial institution, and that you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”

At Wednesday proceedings, Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo,SAN informed the court that the convict again was not in court and no reasonable excuse was given from his lawyers about his whereabouts. He urged the court to continue with the sentencing in his absence citing Section 266 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which provides guidelines for such an occasion.

Oyedepo also urged the court to order the forfeiture of properties traced to the convict to the Federal Government. The properties are, two units of four- bedroom detached apartments located at 93 Ahmed Joda Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja and a property located at No 12A & B, Lingo Street, Wuse, Abuja.

Also, Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, urged the court to order the forfeiture of cash recovered from Mamman’s house: $13,890, €19,960, £10,000 , 42,390 Doran, R35,000, ₹50,60,00 and 247 Saudi Arabia Riyadth . He also urged the court to direct that the convict refund the difference of the amount recovered and the amount remaining in the N22bn for which he was found guilty.

Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to 75years imprisonment: seven years each on counts 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,11& 12 without an option of fine, three years on count 4 with an option of fine of N10m and two years on count 5 without an option of fine. The sentence will run consecutively from the date of his arrest.

Justice Omotosho ordered all national and international security agencies to arrest and handover the convict to the Nigerian Correctional center.

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Justice Maryann Anineh, on Monday, revoked the bail earlier granted to the former minister and subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his continued absence from court proceedings.

Mamman has reportedly remained out of circulation since May 7, 2026, when Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Maitama convicted him on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering involving about ₦33.8 billion.

The former minister is also standing trial alongside seven others in a separate case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Anineh. The defendants are facing a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and alleged intent to defraud to the tune of ₦31.07 billion.

At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that Mamman was absent and that no explanation had been provided by his legal team regarding his whereabouts. He further noted that no justification was offered for Mamman’s absence during the earlier proceedings that led to his conviction before Justice Omotosho.

Responding, Mamman’s counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN, argued that following the earlier conviction and the bench warrant already issued by the Federal High Court, it was the responsibility of the prosecution authorities to produce the defendant before the court.

However, Oyedepo disagreed, insisting that it was not the duty of the prosecution to account for the whereabouts of a defendant represented by counsel. He urged the court to revoke Mamman’s bail, issue a fresh bench warrant for his arrest, and summon his surety at the next adjourned sitting.

The prosecution also asked the court to continue with the trial in Mamman’s absence pursuant to Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

In her ruling, Justice Anineh granted the prosecution’s applications, revoked the defendant’s bail, and ordered his arrest ahead of the next hearing date. The court further ruled that the trial would continue despite Mamman’s absence in line with the provisions of the ACJA 2015.

The matter was adjourned until May 14, 2026, for continuation of trial proceedings.

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The former minister, who was absent in court, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503,73( Thirty Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy Three kobo)
Count one of the charges reads:

“That you, SALEH MAMIVIAN {Male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, whilst you were the Minister of Power conspired with other officials of your Ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of =N=33,804,830,503.73

{Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo) through various private companies which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Count two reads:

“That you, SALEH MAMMAN (Male), sometime in December 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, conspired with SAMSON BITRUS to make a cash payment of US$665, 700:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD (acting through Mohammed Asheik Jidda), without going through a financial institution, and that you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”

Justice Omotosho had slated the judgment for Thursday after parties in the case were duly served with hearing notices.
However, when the matter was called, the ex-minister was not in court.

Defence counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that, although his team was duly informed that the matter would be coming up for judgment on Thursday, they had been unable to get in touch with him.

“My Lord, the defendant is not in court. We received a message that the matter is for judgment, and it was delivered on Tuesday.

“Since then, we have been trying to reach him (Mr Mamman), but all efforts made have not been successful. But yesterday, one of his associates informed us that he is indisposed,”

EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, confirmed that the prosecution received the hearing notice and that judgment was scheduled for Thursday. He faulted Ahmed’s claim that Mamman was ill, stressing that there was no evidence to back up his submissions.

The prosecution lawyer said that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the court has the discretionary power to proceed with the judgment.

After lengthy arguments between the prosecution and defence counsel, Justice Omotosho frowned at Ahmed’s back and forth on the whereabouts of the former minister
“The defendant is not here, and there is no medical report to back this. We are all ministers in the temple of justice counsel,” the judge said.
Mr Oyedepo then urged the court to proceed with the judgment.

Justice Omotosho eventually handed down the judgment, convicting Mamman of the 12-count charges of money laundering. He also deferred his sentence to May 13, 2026 because the former Minister was not physically present in court.
To preempt his escape from the country before being sentenced, Oyedepo applied for a bench warrant for his arrest so as to be produced in court and the prayer was answered

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Kumo was initially arraigned on December 3, 2025 on three -count charges of bribery by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

However, on December 30, 2025 , the defendant, through his counsel, Adamu Bawa,  filed a preliminary objection  challenging  the  jurisdiction of the court to try him as he was “a judicial officer who ought  be taken to the Judicial  Service Commission ( JSC) for any wrong doing if such exists”,  a motion which was countered by the EFCC counsel, A. Aliyu, arguing  that the defendant   was a magistrate and not a judicial officer quoting Section 318(1) of the 1999 constitution  as amended .

The judge upheld the submission of the prosecution counsel in his ruling on February 17, 2026 on the matter of jurisdiction.

Count one of the count charges  read: “That you Muhammad Suleiman Kumo being a magistrate at Chief magistrate Court Pantami in such capacity on or about the 6th day of November 2024 in Gombe , Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did receive for yourself, monetary benefit of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) through Zenith bank account number 2273938871 belonging to one Adamu Ahmed , a registrar in your court , thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 10(a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act 2000”

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

At the resumed sitting on May 5 ,2026  counsel to the defendant informed the court that the defendant would like to change his plea from ” not guilty to guilty” .

When the charges were re- read to the defendant , he pleaded guilty .

Following the guilty plea,  the prosecution counsel ,stated that the prosecution had spent time and resources in the prosecution of the case before the change of plea.

He urged the court to convict the defendant and order him in addition to the sentence to pay the sum of Five Hundred thousand Naira ( N500,000) as compensation to the  Commission.

Delivering judgment,  Justice Kereng noted  the severity of the offence, affirming that, “ I hereby convict you for the offence of corruption under Section 10 (a)(i)(ii) of the Corrupt practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 of the ICPC Act.  Also,  N500,000 is not excessive as compensation for investigation and prosecution “.

He also sentenced Kumo to two  years and six months  imprisonment with an option of  N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) as fine  and ordered him to pay the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) as compensation to the Commission.

Kumo’s  journey to the Correctional Centre  began when the Ministry of Justice,  Gombe State alleged that one Abubakar Isa Jauro Kuna and Suleiman Haruna  complained about Kumo regarding bribery.  The convict was investigated,  charged to court and eventually convicted.

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In a statement, the suspect—declared wanted by authorities in Beijing—is accused of masterminding a large-scale financial fraud involving the illegal absorption of public deposits valued at over $245 million.

Police investigations reveal that Xu Qing fled to Nigeria on November 5, 2024, in a bid to evade arrest. A warrant was subsequently issued on November 12, 2025, by the Shinan Sub-Bureau of the Qingdao Public Security Bureau.

Acting on credible intelligence and sustained surveillance, INTERPOL operatives in Abuja tracked the fugitive to a factory in Olowotedo, Siun Village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, where he was apprehended on April 24, 2026.

He was subsequently repatriated to the People’s Republic of China on April 28, 2026, under existing bilateral policing arrangements to face prosecution.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Force’s resolve to deepen international cooperation in the fight against transnational organised crime, stressing that Nigeria will not serve as a sanctuary for financial criminals.

He further urged Nigerian businesses and employers to conduct thorough background checks, including police verification, before engaging foreign nationals.

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He is being prosecuted on a two-count charge.

Count one reads: “That you Oluwabusayo Ekundayo sometime in 2022 in Abuja, within the Judicial Division of the  High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being the CEO/Chairman of Orion Surgical and Satures,  did  obtain from one  Clara  Onwumere the sum of N4,650,000.00 (Four  Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), by means of cheque  which  when presented within three months, would be dishonoured on the ground that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account upon which the cheque was drawn and you thereby committed an offence contrary Section 1(1)(b) of Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act 2004 and punishable under section 1(1)(b)(i) of the same Act.”

Count two reads: “That you Oluwabusayo Ekundayo within the Judicial Division of the  High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, being the CEO/Chairman of Orion Surgical and Satures,  did  obtain credit from one Clara  Onwumere in the sum of N12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million Naira only) which  when presented within three months, would be dishonoured on the ground that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account upon which the cheque was drawn and you thereby committed an offence contrary Section 1(1) (b) and punishable under Section 1(1)(b) of Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act 2004 and punishable under section 1(1) (b) (i) of the same Act.”

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him,  prompting prosecution counsel, Joyce Audu to request a trial date.

Trial has since commenced in the matter.

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The witness, Ahmed Audu Abubakar (PW17), testified while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

He told the court that Ali Bello, the first defendant, in his extra-judicial statement, acknowledged both inflows and outflows of funds through BDC channels.

“The second column shows that the utilisation of the funds in the BDC were carried out by the instruction of the first defendant, most of them are cronies of the first defendant. In the extrajudicial statement, he has already made a statement as to the inflows and outflows,” the witness said.

Responding to further questions, the witness alleged that the funds were expended for the benefit of both Ali Bello and former Governor Yahaya Bello, with several beneficiaries linked to the transactions.

“The spending of the money is for the first defendant and for the former governor. Some of the beneficiaries were cronies of the first defendant,” he told the court.

He further referenced multiple transactions, including payments to entities and individuals such as Mother Care Welfare, described as an NGO linked to the former governor’s wife, and Mumuni Benghazi of Wuse, Abuja.

The witness also cited alleged payments including ₦100 million to Dantata on behalf of the first defendant, a further ₦20 million to complete the same transaction, ₦80 million for property acquisition, ₦19 million to Sunny Benghazi, and payments to CI Automobiles.

“These are the statements of the defendant before my lord,” he added.

The PW17 was subsequently cross-examined by defence counsels Ahmed Raji, SAN, and O. Jolaooyo, SAN.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to May 6, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) is prosecuting Ali Bello, who serves as Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, alongside Dauda Sulaiman, on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged money laundering and misappropriation of ₦10.27 billion.

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Callistus, who allegedly operated under the name Nwachimereze Amen Resources, was docked on a 10-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing. The charges stem from claims that he fraudulently converted funds entrusted to him for a foreign exchange transaction involving a business partner in China.

According to the EFCC, the defendant received a total of N78,295,000 from petitioner Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu, who had intended the money to be transferred to his associate abroad. However, instead of completing the transaction, Callistus allegedly diverted a significant portion of the funds for personal use.

Part of the charge states that on May 2, 2024, the defendant fraudulently converted N62.7 million belonging to the petitioner, while a separate count alleges that between May 3 and 7, he diverted an additional N15.5 million.

To allegedly cover his tracks, Callistus reportedly sent telex copies of transfers from “ABA Bank of Cambodia” for the outstanding balance. These documents were later discovered to be fake when presented to the intended recipient in China.

The offences, according to prosecutors, contravene provisions of the Criminal Code Law of Anambra State.

When the charges were read in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Rotimi Enitan Ajobiewe, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.

However, defence counsel, Hypolite Ohaneche, informed the court of a pending bail application and urged the court to grant his client bail. The prosecution opposed the request, citing concerns that the defendant might abscond, alleging he had previously jumped administrative bail.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Onyefulu granted bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties. The court stipulated that one of the sureties must present a valid tax clearance certificate, while both must be relatives of the defendant, reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and possess valid National Identification Numbers.

Further hearing in the case is expected to continue on a date to be determined by the court.

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