Trial judge, Justice Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, directed the EFCC to call its first witness.

Although Joseph Daudu, SAN, who appeared for the defendants, attempted to draw the court’s attention to his clients’ pending bail application, the judge declined the lawyer’s request.

Justice Abdulmalik reminded Daudu that on the last adjourned date, she made an order to the effect.

Justice Abdulmalik held that the bail application and other motions would be taken after the EFCC’s 1st prosecution witness (PW-1) had given his evidence-in-chief.

Following the directive, the EFCC lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, called their (PW-1), David Ajoma, a banker.

Giving his evidence, Ajoma told the court that he worked as a compliance officer with Sterling Bank in Abuja.

He said he had worked with the bank for three years and handled compliance requests from law enforcement agencies.

The PW-1 testified that on December 2, 2025, Sterling Bank received a request from the EFCC seeking details of loan facilities granted to Rayham Hotel Limited.

According to him, the bank subsequently forwarded the requested documents, including the account opening package, loan account statements, and other supporting records.

The witness, who was led in evidence-in-chief by Okutepa, further told the court that the loan facility granted to Rayham Hotel Limited was backed by a cash collateral from Metropolitan Autotech.

He explained that both Metropolitan Autotech and Rayham Hotel Limited maintained separate accounts with Sterling Bank.

He said the signatory to the Metropolitan Autotech account was one Hassan Aliyu.

Under cross-examination by Daudu, Ajoma admitted that he was not the relationship manager for either Rayham Hotel Limited or Metropolitan Autotech accounts and was therefore not privy to the specific details or purposes of inflows into the accounts.

He also confirmed that the name of the former AGF, Malami, did not appear on the loan application documents presented to the court.

According to the witness, the only name appearing on the loan application was Abdulaziz Malami, who signed as the Managing Director of Rayham Hotel Limited.

Ajoma further told the court that none of the transactions reviewed by the bank originated from any government account, the Federal Ministry of Justice or from Malami personally.

The witness also stated that from the documents available before the court, he could not identify any suspicious transaction linked to the accounts under review.

He added that no transaction was found to be in breach of regulations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

After the witness concluded his testimony, Daudu moved the bail application for Malami, his wife and their son.

Although Okutepa told the court that the commission would not be opposing, he urged the judge to impose conditions that would guarantee the defendants’ availability for trial.

Justice Abdulmalik granted the bail application following no objection by the anti-graft agency.

The judge admitted Malami, his wife and son to a N200 million bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

Justice Abdulmalik ordered that one of the sureties shall deposit his or her title deeds of a landed property located at Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja, to the registrar of the court.

The judge, who ordered the defendants to also deposit their passports (travel document) with the court, held that the trio would be remanded in Kuje and Suleja Correctional Centres pending the perfection of their bail terms.

Malami, Asabe and Abdulaziz are being prosecuted on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N8. 7 billion.

Justice Abdulmalik had, on February 27, admitted Malami and Abdulaziz to a N200 million bail with two sureties in like sum in another charge earlier filed by the Department of State Services, DSS, over alleged terrorism and illegal possession of firearms.

The case had, since, been taken over by the office of the current AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

Source: NAN

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The post EFCC opens N8.7bn money laundering case against Malami, wife, son appeared first on Frontpageng.

El-Rufai is demanding a N1 billion in damages against ICPC (1st respondent) and others.

They include the Chief Magistrate at the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja; Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), named as 2nd to 4th respondents respectively.

The matter, which was before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, could not proceed shortly after it was called.

Upon resumed hearing, only Ubong Akpan, the counsel, who appeared for the ex-govenor, was in court, as there was no representation for the respondents.

Akpan, therefore, informed the court that though the matter was scheduled for mention, they had been unable to serve the respondents.

He sought an adjournment to enable them do the needful and Justice Abdulmalik fixed March 11 for further mention.

El-Rufai, through his team of lawyers led by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, is praying the court to declare that the search warrant issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate, Magistrate’s Court of the FCT (2nd respondent), authorising the search and seizure at his residence was invalid, null and void.

He is asking the court to declare that the search warrant is “null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution.”

The former governor, in the originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated and filed February 20 by Iyamu, sought seven reliefs.

He prayed the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 at about 2pm by the ICPC and I-G, a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights.

He said that it was violation to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.

He urged the court to declare that “any evidence obtained pursuant to the aforesaid invalid warrant and unlawful search is inadmissible in any proceedings against the applicant, as it was procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.”

El-Rufai, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further relying on, using, or tendering any evidence or items seized during the unlawful search in any investigation, prosecution, or proceedings involving him.

He sought an order directing the 1st and 3rd respondents (ICPC and I-G) to forthwith return all items seized from the applicant’s premises during the unlawful search, together with a detailed inventory thereof.

He also sought an order awarding the sum of N1 billion as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages.

El-Rufai did the breakdown of the N1 billion in damages to include “a N300 million as compensatory damages for psychological trauma, emotional distress, and loss of personal security;

“N400 million as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement agencies and vindicate the applicant’s rights.

“N300 million as aggravated damages for the malicious, high-handed and oppressive nature of the respondents’ actions, including the use of a patently defective warrant procured through misleading representations.”

He equally sought a N100 million as cost of filing the suit, including legal fees and associated expenses.

In his grounds of argument, the senior lawyer argued that the search warrant was fundamentally defective, lacking specificity in the description of items to be seized, containing material typographical errors, ambiguous execution terms, overbroad directives, and no verifiable probable cause.

He said that was in contravention of Sections 143-148 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015; Section 36 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act, 2000, and constitutional protections against arbitrary intrusions.

Specifically, Iyamu argued that Section 143 of the ACJA required that an application for a search warrant be supported by information in writing and on oath, setting forth reasonable grounds for suspicion, which was absent here as evidenced by the incomplete initiating clause.

He said Section 144 mandated particular descriptions of the place to be searched and the items sought, to prevent general warrants.

He, however, argued that the instant warrant vaguely referred to “the thing aforesaid” without any detail.

Iyamu stated that the execution of the invalid warrant on February 19 resulted in an unlawful invasion of his client’s premises, constituting violations of the rights to dignity (Section 34), personal liberty (Section 35), fair hearing (Section 36), and privacy (Section 37) of the Constitution.

He further argued that the search was conducted without legal justification and in a manner that inflicted humiliation and distress.

Source: NAN

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The post El-Rufai’s N1bn rights suit against ICPC, others suffers setback appeared first on Frontpageng.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the bail on Friday while ruling on the application argued by the defendants’ lead counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu, SAN.

The defendants, however, were ordered to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

Some of the bail conditions included that the former AGF and his son must produce two sureties each in like sum.

One of the sureties must own landed property in Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja.

Justice Abdulmalik also ordered that the title documents of the properties should be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court alongside valid international passports.

The judge ordered that the sureties must depose to affidavits of means and submit two recent passport photographs to the court.

In addition, Malami and his son were directed to deposit their passports (travel documents) and recent passport photographs with the court.

The judge subsequently fixed March 4 for the commencement of trial.

The Department of State Services, DSS, had arraigned Malami and Abdulaziz on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026 and filed before the court in Abuja, Malami was accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were allegedly forwarded to him while he served as AGF and Minister of Justice.

The defendants were also accused of warehousing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi local government area of Kebbi without lawful authority.

Specifically, the DSS alleged in count one that Malami knowingly abetted terrorism financing by failing to prosecute alleged financiers, contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In counts two to five, Malami and his son were charged with unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5’20 live cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges.

The offence, according to the prosecuting agency are contrary to, and punishable under relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Firearms Act, 2004.

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Yelwata attack: How suspected terrorists were arrested -Witness

The post Alleged terrorism: Court grants Malami, son N200m bail appeared first on Frontpageng.

The witness said the attackers, numbering over 100 and armed with AK47, killed about 150 persons in the incident.

Paul, who is an investigator and member of the Intelligence Response Unit, IRU, of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik while testifying at the resumed trial of the nine men accused of being involved in the attack.

“The number of people that came for the attack in Yelwata were over 100 and they were wielding AK47.

“Investigation into the case is still ongoing. Any moment from now, we may still bring another set of people,” he said.

The nine men are Ardo Lawal Mohammed Dono, Ardo Muhammadu Saidu, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, Yakubu Adamu, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, Abubakar Adamu, Shaibu Ibrahim, Sale Mohammed and Bako Jibrin.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said the attack was carried out by Fulanis, who were on a retaliatory mission.

Paul said he knew all the defendants, because he participated in their arrest in three communities in Nasarawa State shortly after the attack.

“On the 13th of June 2025, we received a news of an attack in Yelwata in Benue. I was in Apa, in Benue State on a kidnapping case when we were drafted to immediately move to Yelwata town.

“We moved into the place on June 14 and gathered some information that led to the arrest of the defendants.

“Some of them were arrested in Kadalko (a border town between Benue and Nasarawa State), Ageregu (another border town) and Lafia in Nasarawa State,” the witness said.

Paul said investigation revealed that there was actually an attack, which led to the killing of over 200 people, with many others injured and property destroyed.

He added: “We learnt over 200 people attacked Yelwata. The attack was initially planned for Dawudu Village, they were repelled and the attackers went into Yelwata, killing over 200 people.

“Yelwata is like a meeting point for displaced people in other villages in Benue State. So, people who were taking refuge in Yelwata were also victims of the attack.”

The witness said he visited Yelwata and was there for almost a month in the course of the investigation.

On why it was only the nine defendants that were brought to court, the witness said they were arrested based on human intelligence gathered based on the investigation.

Paul told the court that the first person to be arrested was Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, who was in Ageregu village.

He said Abdullahi admitted during interrogation that he participated in a meeting that was held in the house of Alhaji Ardo Lawal Dono, in Nasarawa State, in which all the Ardos were in attendance, including Ardo Giza, Ardo Kwara and Ardo Giana.

The witness said the meeting dwelt on complaints about the way the Fulani were being treated in Benue, during which Abdullahi claimed that his cows and two of his children had been killed.

He said at the end of first meeting, Ardo Lawan, being the head of Ardos in Nasawa State, asked them to go and do what they thought will help them.

Paul said the second meeting was held at Ardo Mohammed Saidu’s (2nd defendant’s) house and agreed to contribute funds to execute the attack.

He added that Abdullahi admitted contributing N300,000 while another participant at the meeting contributed N200,000.

The witness told the court that Abdullahi also told him that Ardo Kadalko (Mohammed Saidu) said he lost about 250 of his cows and two of his children in a place very close to Yelwata.

On how the investigators confirmed that the meetings actually held, the witness said they were able to ascertain from the other defendants that the two meetings actually held and that plans for the attack were concluded at their meetings.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until Friday for continuation of trial.

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The post Yelwata attack: How suspected terrorists were arrested -Witness appeared first on Frontpageng.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, FHC, fixed the date after the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to her.

The DSS, on Monday, filed a three-count criminal charge against El-Rufai following his alleged involvement in wiretapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge, instituted by the Nigerian secret police, is marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.

The service accused El-Rufai of breaching the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act, (2024), and the Nigerian Communications Act (2003.)

In count one, El Rufai was alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, did admit during the interview that he and his cohorts unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the NSA, Mr Ribadu.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.

In count two, the ex-governor was alleged to have, on February 13, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, did state during the interview that he knew and related with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of NSA, without reporting the said individual to relevant security agencies.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.

Count three alleged that El Rufai and others still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting NSA’s phone communications.

The act, which the DSS said, the ex-governor admitted during an interview on February 13th on Arise TV station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja “and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131(2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”

El-Rufai had, during a live interview on the TV station, claimed he overheard Mr Ribadu directing security operatives to detain him, linking the alleged directive to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on February 12 after his return from Cairo, Egypt.

The former governor was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday over corruption allegations.

He was granted administrative bail at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday but was said to have been immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

The ICPC’s spokesperson, John Odey, who confirmed the development in a message shared on a journalist’s Whatsapp group Wednesday night, simply said: “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with ongoing investigations.”

Source: NAN

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The post DSS gets date to arraign El-Rufai over alleged cybercrime, breach of national security appeared first on Frontpageng.

The PW-8, who was a member of the Amotekun Security Network, told Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja while being led in evidence by counsel for the Department of State Services, DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN.

The witness, simply identified as “SSH” for security reasons, said he was one of the officials deployed to go to the scene of the attack.

The DSS is prosecuting Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25 years), Al Qasim Idris (20 years), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26 years), Abdulhaleem Idris (25 years) and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47 years) on alleged terrorism offences in respect of the church attack.

At least, 40 worshippers were killed and over 100 persons sustained varying degree of injuries.

Led in evidence by Adedipe, the witness chronicled how the team made efforts to arrest the attackers.

“On June 5, 2022 as an operative of Amotekun, we received a distress call from the anti-kidnapping squad.

“We were on an anti-kidnapping mission when we received a call that there was an attack at the St. Francis Church, Owo.

“So, we were asked to withdraw and go to St Francis Church. On getting to the church, we met a crowd and managed to enter the premises.

“When we entered the church premises, we saw several dead bodies on the floor, both inside and around the church, including some injured people, including women and children,” he said.

The witness added: “We later came outside the church to gather information, and learnt that the attackers were four in number and that they left the church in a blue Nissan car.

“We got into our vehicle and started to trail them towards Ute Road, because that was the information we got.

“We were able to get close to them because our vehicle was more efficient than the one they were carrying.”

SSH said at a point, the attackers “suddenly parked their car and ran into the bush. One of our men and a volunteer went after them while the rest of us waited strategically.”

The witness said they later heard gun shots, adding: “After a while of gun shots, our colleague came out of the bush and informed us that the hunter has been killed.

“We were able to get back to the bush to take the body of the hunter,” the witness said.

He added that they later took the Nissan car to their office, before it was moved to the state headquarters of Amotekun.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer, Abdullahi Mohammad, the witness said he could not remember how many of them brought out the hunter’s corpse from the bush.

On whether they made efforts to identify the actual owner of the Nissan car, the witness said: “Before we moved the vehicle to the state headquarters in Akure, the owner came to our office to identify himself as the owner of the vehicle.”

When asked if they interviewed the owner of the vehicle, the witness said the interview was conducted in their office, but that he was not part of those who interviewed the owner of the car.

At the conclusion of the cross-examination, Adedipe prayed the court to grant an adjournment to three consecutive days to allow the prosecution call its last set of witnesses and close its case.

The defence lawyer did not oppose, following which Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned until March 24, 25 and 26 for continuation of trial.

Source: NAN

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The post Owo church attack: Witness tells court efforts made to arrest suspects appeared first on Frontpageng.

The order also affected the Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Zenith Bank and Access Bank where the state government also banks.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment, held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January 2024 by Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers was a constitutional somersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

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Justice Abdulmalik held that the presentation of the 2024 Budget by Fubara before a 4-member Rivers House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.

The judge said that Fubara’s action in implementing unlawful budget had smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect.

She, consequently, ordered the CBN, AGF, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.

Source: NAN

The post Court bars CBN, AGF, others from releasing allocation to Rivers appeared first on Frontpageng.

Sanwo-Olu, through his lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, filed the fundamental right enforcement suit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

When the matter was called for mention on Tuesday, Ozurumba informed the court that he had withdrawn the earlier originating summons filed and replaced it with a new one.

The lawyer said the anti-graft agency had been duly served with the latest court documents.

However, EFCC’s counsel, Hadiza Afegbua, said she was yet to see the documents.

Besides, the proof of service of the processes was not in the court file and Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until November 11 for further mention.

In the originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024 dated and filed on June 6, the governor raised seven questions and sought 11 reliefs.

Sanwo-Olu sought a declaration that under and by virtue of the provisions of Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, “the plaintiff, as a citizen of Nigeria, is entitled to right to private and family life as a minimum guarantee encapsulated under the Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, 1999 before, during and after occupation of public office created by the Constitution.”

He wants the court to declare that under and by virtue of the provisions of Sections 43 and 44(1) of the 1999 Constitution, he is entitled to acquire, own, operate and manage both moveable and immovable property.

This, he said, include bank accounts, as a minimum guarantee encapsulated under the constitution either before, during and after leaving public office of governor of a state.

He also wants the court to declare that upon community reading of the provisions of Sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the constitution, the threat of his investigation, arrest and detention by the EFCC during his tenure of office as governor is illegal.

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He also said that the plan to arrest him was unconstitutional and a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35(1) & (4) and 41(1) of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended).

The governor prayed the court to declare that the incessant harassment, threat of arrest and detention, against him upon the EFCC’s instigation by his political adversaries based on false and politically motivated allegation of corruption is a misuse of executive powers and abuse of public office.

He further wants the court to declare it as an unwarranted interference with his fundamental right to personal liberty, freedom of movement, fair hearing and equal protection of the law as guaranteed by the constitution and the Africa Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights, CAP A9 LFN 2004.

Sanwo-Olu, therefore, sought an order restraining the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating or prosecuting him in connection with his tenure as the governor of Lagos State.

He also prayed the court to make an order prohibiting and restraining the commission “from seizing the properties, the international passport and travel documents of the plaintiff or freezing the bank accounts of the plaintiff, his family members or in any other way to further breach the plaintiff’s fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.”

He urged the court to make an order restraining the EFCC from inviting, arresting or detaining him in connection with his tenure as governor of the state or breach his fundamental rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, private and family life, freedom of movement, acquisition of moveable and immoveable property as enshrined in the laws

In the affidavit in support of the originating summons deposed to by Martha Kanu, a litigation secretary in the law firm, the lawyer said she was informed the facts by the governor at a tele-conference meeting which she believed to be true.

She alleged that as a way of getting at the governor, the EFCC was now making surreptitious plan to arrest some of his aides and family members based on the false and spurious allegations of diversion of funds.

She said the officials of the commission were now mounting pressure on some of the aides of the governor to come and make incriminating statements against him.

Besides, Kanu alleged that the anti-graft agency was also threatening to go after some contractors handling projects for the state government.

He said the agency was compelling them to come and make statements to implicate Sanwo-Olu of corruption as part of the orchestrated contrivance to build up a trump up case against him.

According to her, in a malicious attempt to get at the plaintiff, some of the plaintiff’s political adversaries in conjunction with some of the officials of the defendant are falsely ascribing to his administration of corrupt practices which are none existent.

She alleged that the EFCC, through some of its officials, were desperately inventing false, spurious and malicious allegations against the governor in order to use same as a basis for investigating, arresting and prosecuting him after leaving office as governor.

Sanwo-Olu was sworn in as the Governor of Lagos State on May 29, 2019 and was re-elected and sworn in again for a second term on May 29, 2023.

Source: NAN

The post Sanwo-Olu sues EFCC, raises the alarm over ‘planned arrest’ appeared first on Frontpageng.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a judgment, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the property, located in deferent parts of the country, were acquired illegally.

According to Justice Abdulmalik, the applicant effectively discharged its responsibility, under the law, to establish that the property were acquired with proceeds of crime.

The judge also held that the “various individuals, who responded to an earlier interim forfeiture order, requiring interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited, failed to establish their ownership of the affected properties with credible evidence.”

Out of the 23 property listed in the schedule, three of them were left out, which include Flat 42C, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Kaduna; Plot 18, Road F, on TPO 462B C of O Kd5469 and Plot of C of O Bo/426 Beacon B5086, B5087, B5105, B5104, B5099 Cadastral Zone B05 Utako.

Maina’s wife, Laila, who claimed to be a citizen of the United States, and some of his relatives and associates, including Uwani Usman, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu Wambai, Haruna Mu’azu Musa and Aliyu Abdullahi, had claimed ownership of the 23 property.

The anti-graft agency had earlier obtained an order of interim forfeiture of 23 property linked to Maina, currently on eight-year jail term for pension fraud to the tune of N2 billion.

Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with lawyer to the EFCC, Farouk Abdullah, that those who claimed to own the property failed to effectively establish the alleged ownership by producing credible evidence.

She said: “It is trite in law that civil cases in non-conviction forfeiture are hinged on the preponderance of evidence.

“Again, I hold that the respondents have failed woefully in tilting the scale of evidential weight in their favour.

“In all, sequel to the facts and documentary detailed evidence relied on by the applicant (the EFCC) in support of this application for final forfeiture, I do hold that the evidential burden of proof indeed shifted to the claimants to establish by way of cogent documentary evidence, the sequential trail of the genesis of their finances leading to the buildup as well as the acquisition of the aforementioned properties subject of interim forfeiture.

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“In view of this grave omission on the part of the claimants (Maina, his wife and his associates) to show good and credible cause on the history of their legitimate earnings, I hereby find merit in applicant’s application for final forfeiture of properties Nos: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 set out in schedule one, attached to the order of interim forfeiture, save properties No: 3, 14 and 20. I so order.”

The affected properties are located in Abuja, Nasarawa, State, Kaduna State and Kano State.

They include “Plot No: 965 Gwarimpa 1 District, Cadastral Zone: CO2, covered by C of O No: 1afew-fe28z-63a5r-e36eu-10.

“Duplex located at No: 16 A Katuru Road, Kaduna.

“52B, SMC Quarters, Unguwan Dosa, Lot 016, comprising of 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow.

“Property at Tola Street, Badarawa, Kaduna, comprising of three bedrooms and an undeveloped land.

“Plot Y12, Kano Street, Kawo New Extension, Kaduna.

“A duplex located at No: 21, 52 Crescent , Kubwa Phase 1V Estate

“House 8, 211 Road, a close numbered FHA/EST/264/TA/032.l, 3 bedrooms bungalow.

“Farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

“Another farm at Dorawa, Karshi Development Area, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O No: KD15452.

“Plot MF-27A, New Pasafi Layout, Kuje, Abuja.

“Plot 1B Ajayi Road, Unguwan Rimi, covered by C of O numbered: NC24059

“Block 23 Flat 2 located at Life Camp (2 bedroom semi-detached.

“Property at No: 62 A/C Maternity ward , Damaturu Road, Biu

“Plot 3A, Sambo Road, Unguwan Rimi covered by C of O No: KD15452 comprising of uncomplicated buildings.

“Plot covered by C of O B426 beacon: B5086; B5087; B5105; B5104; B5099 at Cadastral Zone B05, Utako.

“No: 16 Dabai Road, off Mangoro Road, Sokoto State.

“No. 13 Korau Road, Nasarawa District, Kano.

“Plot 965 Cadastral Zone C02, Gwarimpa, FCT, Abuja.”

Source: NAN

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A statement signed by  Dr. A.G.O. Labinjo, Chairman MUSWEN Health Committee, said the lecture, the first in the series, is expected to be an annual event for sensitisation of the public on common health problems and use it as an avenue for advocacy and publicity of MUSWEN and its programme.

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The event with the theme: “National insecurity and its psychosocial effects on the citizens: The Islam and health perspectives” will hold under the chairmanship of MUSWEN President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo.

He added that Professor Abdulrazaq Abdulmajeed Alaro, the Guest Speaker, would talk on the Islamic perspective while Dr Jibril Abdulmalik, Consultant Psychiatrist, University College Hospital, UCH, would speak on the medical perspective.

Dignitaries from muslim community in all the six states of the southwest are expected at the event.

There will be free medical checkup for members of the public starting from 8 a.m. at the same venue.

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