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Tag: Court

  • Autononomy: LGs drag FG, states to court, Tuesday

    Autononomy: LGs drag FG, states to court, Tuesday

    The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja will on Tuesday hear a suit filed by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria against the Central Bank of Nigeria and others over the implementation of local government autonomy.

    The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/353/2025, was instituted by the Registered Trustees of ALGON against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Finance, state Commissioners for Finance, and 21 others.

    Other defendants include the Minister of Budget and National Planning; Accountant-General of the Federation; the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission; the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, various commercial banks, and one Bello Lawal.

    Following the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, which granted financial autonomy to LGs, ALGON filed a suit seeking an order restraining the disbursement of funds to local governments without its approval.

    Additionally, ALGON demands that the 774 local councils be granted representation at Federation Account Allocation Committee meetings where allocations are discussed.

    ALGON Secretary-General, Mohammed Abubakar, confirmed the suit hearing date to The PUNCH on Sunday.

    In its originating summons, ALGON trustees’ prayers include: “A declaration that, given the Supreme Court decision on 11th July 2024, in Suit No: SC/CV/343/2024, between Attorney-General of Federation vs Attorney-General, Abia State and 35 Ors, Constitution of ALGON, 1999, the 1st to 8th defendants cannot disburse monies to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria, through the 9th to 23rd defendants or any other person whatsoever, without the plaintiff authorising, approving said 9th to 23rd defendants or any other person whatsoever after conducting due diligence on them to avert any diversion of the funds of the local government councils.

    “A declaration that, given the Supreme Court decision on July 11, 2024, the 1st to 7th defendants or any other person whatsoever cannot discuss, approve, disburse or in any other way whatsoever deal with the monies accruing to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria without the representation of the local government councils at such deliberations, discussions, committees, howsoever called, including at the Federation Account Allocation Committee chaired by the 2nd defendant.”

    Furthermore, ALGON contends that, while the Supreme Court judgment intends to liberate the local government administration, the AGF, Ministry of Finance, state Commissioners of Finance and CBN have taken “precipitate action to frustrate the implementation of the decision.”

    ALGON, through its counsel, Okechukwu Uju-Azorji, further claimed that the 9th to 23rd defendants, which are the commercial banks, are already taking steps “to be the conduit pipe or warehouse from which any money or allocation meant for the local government councils will be collected.”

    Also speaking on behalf of the state Commissioners for Finance, Fapohunda argued that ALGON is not a member of FAAC and lacks any constitutional or statutory entitlement to participate in its processes.

    In an affidavit, Jeff Otache, the administrative manager at the offices of the Incorporated Trustees of State Finance Commissioners, described ALGON’s suit as “vague, imprecise, evasive, and an abuse of court process.”

    The commissioners held, “The suit of the plaintiff is conjectural, vague, imprecise, evasive and hollow. That hearing the suit is a sheer waste of judicial time and it is in the interest of justice to dismiss or strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

    “I know as a fact that the plaintiff is not a member of any of the defendants and as such cannot force itself on them. I also know for a fact that the plaintiff organisation that has no nexus with the defendants’ statutory duties. That the plaintiff/respondent is not entitled to any of the reliefs sought,” he stated.

    In response, however, ALGON filed a counter-affidavit, asserting its legal status.

    It claims to have been incorporated as an association on May 10, 2002, with the principal objective of promoting and defending the autonomy and interests of local governments in Nigeria.

    ALGON further accused the 24th defendant of falsely parading himself as its President without valid authority, in violation of the group’s constitution.

    The group submitted its constitution and Corporate Affairs Commission registration documents as evidence of its legal status and right to sue.

  • ECOWAS Court rules Kano blasphemy laws contravene Nigeria’s human rights commitments

    ECOWAS Court rules Kano blasphemy laws contravene Nigeria’s human rights commitments

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice has ruled that blasphemy provisions under Kano State law violate Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

    The judgment concluded that these laws infringe on the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in regional and global human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.

    The case was filed by the Expression Now Human Rights Initiative (ENHRI), a Nigerian non-governmental organisation, against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NGO argued that blasphemy laws in various parts of the country, particularly in Kano State, have resulted in arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention, and even death sentences for individuals accused of blasphemous speech.

    In a panel comprising Judges Ricardo Gonçalves, Sengu Koroma, and Dupe Atoki, the court ruled that Section 210 of the Kano State Penal Code was vague and lacked the legal clarity required by international human rights standards. It further held that Section 382(b) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law (2000), which prescribes the death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad, was both excessive and disproportionate, failing to meet acceptable standards in a democratic society.

    The court declared that both legal provisions were incompatible with Nigeria’s duty to uphold freedom of expression and ordered the federal government to repeal or amend the laws to comply with Article 9(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. While acknowledging the state’s interest in preserving public order and respecting religious beliefs, the court emphasized that the laws failed the tests of legality, necessity, and proportionality under the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

    Though the court rejected allegations of state failure to prevent blasphemy-related mob violence due to insufficient evidence, it declared the case admissible with regard to the violation of the right to free expression. It affirmed its jurisdiction, finding the Kano laws inconsistent with Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law.

    The judgment comes in the wake of high-profile cases like that of Mubarak Bala, a self-declared atheist and former president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, who was arrested in April 2020 following social media posts critical of Islam. Bala was tried in Kano and sentenced in 2022 to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to an 18-count charge of blasphemy and incitement. His case attracted global attention and condemnation from human rights groups concerned about freedom of belief and expression in Nigeria. After spending four years behind bars, Bala was released in January 2025 following a successful appeal that reduced his sentence.

  • Alleged cocaine deal: Court orders Abba Kyari, others to enter defence

    Alleged cocaine deal: Court orders Abba Kyari, others to enter defence

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, ordered the suspended DCP Abba Kyari, and his co-defendants to enter their defence in the charge preferred against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in separate rulings on their no-case submission applications, held that a prima face case had been made out against Kyari and other police officers in the charge.

    Kyari, the 1st defendant and a former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police was arrested on Feb. 14, 2022, after the NDLEA declared him wanted over alleged links to an international drug cartel.

    The suspended DCP and four members of the IRT–ACP Sunday J. Ubua, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu are being prosecuted on charges of  conspiracy to deal in 17.55kg of cocaine.

    They are also accused of dealing in cocaine without lawful authority; conspiracy to tamper with cocaine and unlawfully tampering with the 21.35kg of cocaine seized from two convicted drug dealers.

    On March 7, 2022, Kyari and others were arraigned alongside Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, the two suspected drug traffickers who were arrested at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu by the officers.

    Upon arraignment, Kyari and four other defendants pleaded not guilty.

    However, Umeibe and Ezenwanne, the 6th and 7th defendants, pleaded guilty and were convicted accordingly.

    Although Kyari and others had, at one time, applied for bail, their application was rejected.

    After the NDLEA closed its case, each of the defendants opted for a no-case submission, arguing that no evidence had been adduced by the prosecution on which the court could convict them.

    Delivering the ruling, Justice Nwite held that with the state of evidence led so far by the prosecution, he was convinced that a prima facie case had been established against the defendants to require them to put forward their defence.

    Justice Nwite held the same view in the five separate rulings he delivered on Friday.

    In a ruling on Kyari’s application, the judge held that “assuming without conceding that the defendants were charged with less amount of cocaine that is lesser than 17.55 kg or more than that, it does not take away the fact that there is prima facie evidence that the 1st defendant dealt or tampered with cocaine.”

    He held that the argument of the 1st defendant’s lawyer on the need to sufficiently prove the amount of cocaine on the face of the charge is not the requirement of the law.

    He also held that there was nothing on the face of the section of the law, on which the defendants were charged, that states or provide different punishment as it relates to the quantity or amount of cocaine, whether the charge provides for 1 kilogram or more.

    According to the judge, in view of the foregoing, I am of the view and I so hold that a prima facie case has been made out against the 1st defendant in the five count charge and I hereby order him to enter his defence in all the five counts.

    The judge issued similar order in relation to the other four defendants.

    He consequently adjourned the matter untill May 21 for the defendants to open their defence.

  • Court strikes out Nnamdi Kanu’s N50bn suit against FG

    Court strikes out Nnamdi Kanu’s N50bn suit against FG

    The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, struck out a N50 billion suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, struck out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.

    When the matter was called on Thursday, neither Kanu nor the Federal Government was represented by any lawyer.

    Justice Ekwo observed that in the last adjourned day, while no lawyer was in court for the IPOB leader, the Federal Government was represented in court by a counsel.

    The judge, who said that the case had taken three adjournments due to no representation, consequently struck out the case.

    Kanu had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st and 2nd defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022.

    Kanu, who sued the defendants over allegations bordering on violation of his rights, alleged that he was kidnapped from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to stand trial.

    He wants the court to determine “whether the way and manner in which the plaintiff was abducted in Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria is consistent with extant laws.”

    Specifically, he cited “the provisions of Article 12 (4) of the African Charter on human and peoples rights (ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Article/Part 5 (a) of the African Charter’s principles and guidelines on human and peoples’ rights while countering terrorism in Africa.”

    Kanu also wants the court to determine “whether by the operation of Section 15 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the plaintiff can be competently/legally tried for offences stated in counts 1 to 14 of the 15-count amended charge.

    He said the counts “are not the offences for which he was surrendered or extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria.”

    In the originating summons, the IPOB leader is seeking 11 reliefs, including an order for his release from Department of State Services (DSS)’ custody.

    He is also seeking an order restraining the defendants from taking any further step to prosecute him over criminal charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, currently pending before a sister court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako.

    Kanu also asked the court to award the sum of N100 million to him “as the cost of this action.”

    But in a notice of preliminary objection dated June 6, 2022, but filed June 27, 2022, the Federal Government and AGF prayed the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as “an abuse of court process.”

    Giving one ground of argument, the defendants argued that Kanu had filed an earlier suit with similar facts before a Federal High Court, Umuahia Division in suit number: FHC/UM/CS/30/2022.

    They further argued that the two defendants were parties in the suit.

    According to the defendants, this renders this suit as an abuse of court process that deprived the court of the jurisdiction to entertain the instant suit.

    Earlier, Aloy Ejimakor had, in one of the proceedings, told Justice Ekwo that he had filed a notice for a change of counsel.

    Ejimakor told the court that he would be taking over the case from Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who filed the suit on April 7, 2022.

  • Aftermath of S/Court verdict: Obi, Otti summon LP NEC Meeting/stakeholders engagement

    Aftermath of S/Court verdict: Obi, Otti summon LP NEC Meeting/stakeholders engagement

    Aftermath of the Supreme Court verdict that ended Julius Abure’s chairmanship, the two leading figures of the Labour Party, the 2023 Presidential flag bearer Peter Obi and the sole state Governor of the party, Alex Otti of Abia state, have summoned the National Executive Committee, NEC of the party in Abuja on Wednesday,y, April 9, 2025.

    In a notice signed by the two men, the NEC meeting shall be followed concurrently by an interactive TownHall Engagement with major stakeholders and other organs of the party.

    The stakeholders listed to attend the meeting include the Vice Presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Serving and former Senators and Senatorial candidates of LP in the 2023 election, serving and former Members of House of Representatives and LP candidates in 2023 election, all members of the National Caretaker Committee and NTC, all former Governorship candidates who are still in the party, Representatives of NLC/TUC Political Commission, All members of the former LP National Working Committee.

    The meeting is in furtherance of the Supreme Court ruling last week terminating the Julius Abure-led NWC.

  • UPDATED: Court bars Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, Imasuen from media interviews

    UPDATED: Court bars Akpoti-Uduaghan, Akpabio, Imasuen from media interviews

    The Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja on Friday, restrained Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan; the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and two others from granting media interviews while the suit filed by Natasha is still pending before the court.

    The new judge, Justice Binta Nyako, gave the order during the hearing of the suit filed by the suspended senator seeking to stop the Senate from investigating her.

    The development followed a complaint by Akpabio’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, that Akpoti-Uduaghan had allegedly been going from one media station to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to the suit.

    Others affected by the order include the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS), the Senate and Sen. Neda Imasuen, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct.

    Justice Nyako ordered that no party or counsel in the suit should grant media interviews pending the hearing and determination of the case

    “There should be no press interview by all parties and counsel as regard the subject matter of this case; no streaming or social media post as regard this case; no TV interview as regard this case.

    “There should be total media blockage,” the judge held.

    According to the judge, this case is sub judice.

    “Therefore, nobody; either the plaintiff or the respondents should do anything that will foist a faith accompli on the court,” she added.

    Justice Nyako, who acknowledged that there are accredited journalists in the court with a press centre, threatened whoever streams the proceedings of the court live with contempt of the court.

    Earlier when the matter was called, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s  lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, said the matter was coming for the first time before the judge, having been transferred from another court presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

    He applied that all the processes filed be taken together, including the preliminary objections, the substantive suit and their disciplinary application, giving the urgency involved.

    He told the court that the life span of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s  suspension was six months, hence the need for expeditious hearing and determination of the suit.

    Responding, lawyer to the clerk of NASS, Charles Iyoila, though did not oppose Okutepa’s application for consolidated hearing, he said “on the issue of contempt, we shall not be in position to receive the Form 48 and Form 49 on behalf of our client,” for substituted service.

    Also counsel to the Senate, Paul Daudu, SAN, did not object to Okutepa’s prayer, stating that a counter affidavit and preliminary objection had been field on his client’s behalf.

    He, however, informed that a motion was filed on March 21 seeking an extension of time to regularised their processes

    However, Justice Nyako stated that she would be stating the matter afresh having just received the case file.

    “I am seeing this file today because I was called by my CJ that I have this matter .

    “So I am just seeing it. For me to start looking for where your processes are in this voluminous documents may take time,” she said.

    The judge said if the plaintiff would not object, all the processes that needed to be regularised would be deemed to have been properly filed going by the urgency of the matter.

    “So I can make that blanket order that all processes for regularisation should be deemed to be properly filed subject to payment of the relevant fees,” she said.

    However, Akpabio’s lawyer, Ogunwumiju, and Umeh Kalu, SAN, who represented Senator Imasuem, objected to Okutepa’s application.

    Ogunwumiju submitted that there are applications for interlocutory injunction, among others, which are key in the matter.

    “There are issues we have raised in our objection.

    “This is not a matter that can be taken by way of originating motion.

    “We have an application that is ripe to be taken today,” he said

    According to him, since the suit was filed, she (Akpoti-Udiaghan) has been granting interviews, even till today.

    “You cannot be here and be granting interviews with BBC, even CNN,” Ogunwumiju said.

    But Okutepa disagreed with Ogunwumiju on the allegations against his client.

    The lawyer also alleged that a senator in the Senate had been moving about granting interviews with media and issuing press releases allegedly on behalf of the senate president.

    “My lord, we are officers of this court. There is a senator that is always on media interviews.

    “My lord, the duty we own is to respect the court. This senator is also a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct.

    “In their report which is in the counter affidavit of the 3rd defendant (Akpabio), my lord will find Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi on number 32.

    “He is always speaking on this issue. My submission is let us have decorum, respect the sanctity of the court,” Okutepa said

    Ogunwumiju urged the court to disregard Okutepa’s submission because Sen. Nwaebonyi was not directly a party in the suit.

    Justice Nyako, therefore, ordered all the parties, including their lawyers to refrain from media interviews in order not to render the decision of the court nugatory.

    The judge also ruled and held in favour of Okutepa, saying the court would hear all pending applications, including preliminary objections along with the substantive suit in the next adjourned date.

    She said the preliminary objection would be determine first to know if the court has jurisdiction to entertain the case.

    “If it succeeds, that is the end of the suit and if it does not, the case continues,” she said.

    The judge also granted the applications of parties seeking to regularise their processes since the plaintiff raised no objection.

    She adjourned the matter until May 12 for hearing.

    NAN reports that Justice Egwuatu had, on March 25, recused himself from the suit filed by the suspended senator who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District.

    The suit had sought to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from going ahead with the disciplinary proceedings over alleged misconduct against the embattled lawmaker.

    Justice Egwuatu had granted Akpoti-Iduaghan’s  five reliefs in the ex-parte motion on March 4, including Order Number Four which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    The judge granted the five prayers after Sanusi Musa, SAN, who appeared for Akpoti-Udughan , moved the ex-parte motion  marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan had, in the motion ex-parte, sued clerk of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Senate as 1st and 2nd defendants.

    She also named the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Sen. Neda Imasuem, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.

    The senator had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Senate’s committee headed by Imasuem from proceeding with the purported investigation against her for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary on Feb. 20, pursuant to the referral by the Senate on Feb. 25, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, among others.

    However on March 6, the Senate suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan following the committee’s report on her alleged gross misconduct, while the suit is still pending.

    But Justice Egwuatu, on March 19, set aside order number four which he granted on March 4, declaring the suspension of Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan  by the Senate as null and void.

    The judge vacated the order following a motion on notice filed by the Senate seeking for the order setting aside the order number four which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

  • LP Supreme Court verdict: It’s no victor, no vanquished – Sen Nenadi

    LP Supreme Court verdict: It’s no victor, no vanquished – Sen Nenadi

    Caretaker Committee Chairman of Labour Party Senator Nenadi E. Usman has said today’s Supreme Court verdict reflects no victor no vanguished in the annals of the party.

    She made this disclosure via a statement she personally signed saying:

    “The recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman—declaring it meritorious—while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as unmeritorious, is a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.

    “It is important to emphasize that this is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor and no vanquished. What matters most is our shared commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the Labour Party and the Nigerian people. We must now come together, united in purpose and vision, to move the party forward.

    “The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centred governance.

    “We call on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to the democratic ideals that bind us.

  • Kano housewife sentenced to death by hanging

    Kano housewife sentenced to death by hanging

    A Kano State High Court on Friday, sentenced a housewife, Fadila Adamu, to death by hanging for kidnapping and throwing an eight-year-old girl into a well, causing her death.

    The defendant, who lives at the Sabuwar Gandu Quarters Kano, was convicted of kidnapping and culpable homicide.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Yusuf Muhammad-Ubale, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the defendant to death by hanging.

    “I hereby sentence the defendant to death by hanging for kidnapping and throwing the victim into a well which caused her death” he ruled

    Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on July 14, 2019, at Tudun Wada Quarters, Kano.

    He said that at about 4:45 p.m, the defendant kidnapped the mior and took her to her house.

    “The defendant told her sister that the deceased was the daughter of her friend, whose mother had travelled to Ghana, and asked her to keep the child until she returned.

    “On July 17, 2019, at about 6:30 p.m., the defendant caused the death of the minor when she threw her into a deep well situated in  the Tukuntawa Quarters Kano,” he said.

    Abba-Sorondinki presented seven witnesses including the defendants’ statements and a medical report confirming the victim’s death.

    The defendant denied committing the offence.

    The prosecution said that the offence contravened Sections 274(b) and 221(a) of the Penal Code.

    The defense counsel, Zulaihat Tata, presented four witnesses, including the defendant, to testify in her defense.

  • My husband usually had sex with me from midnight till morning; I need divorce – Woman tells court

    My husband usually had sex with me from midnight till morning; I need divorce – Woman tells court

    A 37-year-old woman, Linda Stephen, on Tuesday approached a Kaduna Customary Court, seeking the dissolution of her six years old marriage over excessive sex by her husband, Felix Stephen.

    In her petition, Mrs Stephen, a resident of Ungwan Sunday in Kaduna, also accused her husband of beating her whenever she rejected his sexual advances.

    She told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage as she can no longer cope with the husband’s excessive demand for sex.

    “I urge the court to dissolve this marriage because I can’t stand his excessive sexual urge; he likes sex too much and I can’t bear it.

    “Most times, he would have sex with me from midnight till early hours of the morning; even when I am crying, he will not stop.

    “It has been three months since I moved out of his house, his relatives have been pleading with me to go back to him, but they do not know what I am facing,” she said.

    She further said that her husband does not control himself whenever he needed sex, and that whenever she refused his sexual advances, he would beat her up, even in front of their two kids.

    Stephen, in his response, told the court that he is in love with his wife.

    He pleaded with the court to help him pacify her, and not to grant her wish.

    Stephen said he had been pleading with her wife not to seek for divorce, as he was now ready to control his sexual urge.

    “I took my uncles and friends to her parents house to plead with her, but she refused to listen to us instead she walked out on us,’’ Stephen said.

    He further pleaded with the court to give him time to sort things out and reconcile with his wife.

    The Judge, John Dauda, adjourned the matter until May 6 for a feedback and outcome of the reconciliation, while advising them to maintain peace.

  • Court arraigns two Chinese, Nigerian over alleged ₦3.4bn, $2.5 million fraud

    Court arraigns two Chinese, Nigerian over alleged ₦3.4bn, $2.5 million fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought two Chinese, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, with a Nigerian, Audu Friday, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The defendants are facing an 11-count charge brought by the EFCC involving cyber-terrorism, computer-related offenses, and money laundering amounting to ₦3,407,824,740.78 and $2,562,203.

    According to the EFCC, the accused were part of a syndicate of 792 individuals arrested in Lagos on December 19, 2024, during the agency’s “Eagle Flush Operation.”

    They were allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment scams and romance fraud.

    Investigations revealed that Friday had incorporated Genting International Co. Ltd. under the directive of Huang Haoyu

    According to one of the charges, the defendants conspired to gain financial advantage by recruiting Nigerian youths to impersonate foreign nationals in fraudulent schemes.

    The EFCC further alleged that they retained over ₦3.4 billion in a Union Bank account, funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

    The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Following their pleas, EFCC prosecutor Bilkisu Buhari requested a short trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in EFCC custody.

    The Defense counsel Emeka Okonkwo, SAN, also requested that they remain in EFCC custody pending their bail hearing.

    Justice Osiagor granted the request, ordering their remand in EFCC custody and adjourning the case for a bail hearing.