News
EFCC arraigns estate developer, two others over N1.8bn fraud
A 33-year old self-acclaimed estate developer, Christopher Abiola Oladunjoye, alongside Augustine Ikechukwu Agodi and Ovie Goru, have appeared before Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, over alleged involvement in fraudulent transactions totaling ₦1.8 billion.
Oladunjoye and his co-defendants were docked on Thursday, on separate charges bordering on possession of funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, contrary to Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the defendants allegedly approached the petitioner, Samuel Mustard Benjamin, a Malaysia-based businessman, claiming they had Malaysian Ringgit equivalent to ₦1.8 billion for exchange, and requested that the petitioner transfer the naira equivalent to bank accounts provided by them in Nigeria, while they would pay him in Ringgit.
However, the funds transferred in Malaysia were discovered to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were subsequently frozen by the Malaysian Anti-Fraud Unit after a victim petitioned the authorities.
Further investigation revealed that the defendants used part of the proceeds to acquire properties, including hotels and residential buildings, in Lagos, Owerri (Imo State), and Agbor (Delta State).
From the total fraudulent sum, Oladunjoye allegedly received ₦1.111 billion, Agodi ₦432.163 million, while Goru benefited ₦337.3 million.
One of the counts against Oladunjoye read; “That you, Christopher Abiola Oladunjoye, sometime in April 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession of the gross sum of ₦570m from Onyeka Joseph Okeke in your Account Number 0069113919, domiciled with Access Bank Plc, which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
A similar count charge against Agodi reads; “That you, Augustine Ikechukwu Agodi and Casa Rosso Lounge Night Club, sometime in April 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession of the gross sum of ₦283,316,000.00, from Onyeka Joseph Okeke in your Account Number 0069113919, domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc, which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
The charge sheet against Goru states; “That you, Ovie Goru, sometime in April 2025, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did take possession of the gross sum of ₦202,600,000.00, from Onyeka Joseph Okeke in your Account Number 0088188927, domiciled with Access Bank Plc, which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their respective charges.
Following their pleas, Barrister Innocent Mbachie and Mustapha Kaigama, who represented the Commission in the cases urged the court to fix a date for trial to enable the Commission present its case.
However, counsel to the defendants, prayed the court to grant their clients bail, arguing that the offences for which they were charged are bailable.
Justice Awogboro, admitted Agodi and Goru to bail in the sum of ₦200m each, with two sureties in like sum and one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below the rank of Permanent Secretary, while the other must own a property within the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in either Abuja or Kwara State.
The court adjourned for ruling on the bail application of Oladunjoye, and for further hearing on the case, according to a statement by the media unit of the anti-graft agency on Friday.
News
Police arrest herbalist, step-brother over murder of 22yr old yahoo boy in Delta
Police detectives from Agbor Area Command have arrested a twenty year old herbalist, Amechi Okwuokenye and his elder step-brother over the alleged abduction and murder of a suspected internet fraudster, Friday Liberty, aged 22 years in his shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The herbalist was arrested at his shrine on 23rd October 2025. He and his suspected accomplice are currently in police custody.
The Police also recovered the corpse of the deceased from the suspect’s shrine and deposited same in the mortuary.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a statement sent to newsmen in Warri.
The statement said, “It was a case of the hunter becoming the hunted, when on the 30th of September 2025, Mr Friday Liberty, aged 22 years old, visited his herbalist, whom he had known for some time now, but this time, he never returned. The family, who initially didn’t know what had happened to their brother, started looking for him.”
“The girlfriend of the deceased then informed the family that she heard a conversation about the said Friday liberty and a certain herbalist, and advised that they should reach out to the said herbalist.
“The family contacted the herbalist, who denied seeing him but promised to do some spiritual incantations so their brother could return alive.
“Having spent money on the herbalist, and the result was not forthcoming, they then reported the matter at the Agbor Area command via a petition on 14th October 2025.
“And this decision proved to be the turning point in the case as the area command detectives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation.
“During the course of the investigation, the detectives uncovered the last person whom Friday Liberty contacted, and found out it was the same herbalist who denied knowing his whereabouts.
Surveillance was laid around his shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East LGA, for days, until he was arrested on 23rd October 2025, in his shrine while hiding inside a refrigerator.
“Upon his arrest of the herbalist Amechi Okwuokenye, aged 20 years, confessed that both he and his brother Smart Okwuokenye, aged 26years, kidnapped the victim liberty Friday and the motorcycle rider identified as Isioma Ugbeje, who carried him to the shrine.
“They further stated that Friday Liberty has been his long-time customer who frequently visits him to hypnotise clients so they could give him money easily( in his words, ‘to tie clients ‘).
“The herbalist said his elder brother approached him that he needed money and advised him to lure any of his clients so they could kidnap him and ask for ransom, and the unlucky person they could lure was Liberty Friday.
“They kidnapped him and the Okada Rider and demanded a ransom of N10,000,000. When they noticed that the plan was not working, they murdered him and the motorcycle rider and dumped their bodies in a soak away pit by the shrine.”
SP Edafe stated that the suspects are in custody, and the remains of the victims have been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.”
He added that, “The commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda assures the public that the command will ensure that justice is served in this case.”
News
Lagos police arrest Chinese national over Ikeja CCTV shop explosion
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a Chinese national in connection with the recent improvised explosive device (IED) blast that rocked a CCTV camera shop on Kodesho Street, Ikeja.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, picked up the suspect, identified as Joe Gu, around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, at his residence, No. A11, Bila Vista, Banana Island, Ikoyi.
According to the sources, the arrest followed ongoing discreet investigations into the explosion, after the complainant named the Chinese businessman as a possible mastermind of the attack.
Preliminary findings indicated that the suspect and the complainant had a prior business relationship that deteriorated in 2013 after a disagreement.
“It was further gathered that during the fallout, the suspect allegedly threatened to disrupt the complainant’s business operations,” the source revealed.
The police confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody as investigations continue to establish his role and possible motive.
The command assured that updates on the case would be made public as soon as new information emerges, reaffirming its commitment to uncovering the truth behind the explosion.
News
Tompolo denies issuing 21-Day ultimatum to FG over Kanu release
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has disowned a social media publication claiming he gave the Federal Government 21 days to release Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo said he has nothing to do with the matter and described the publication as false and mischievous, alleging it was the handiwork of his enemies determined to discredit him over his ongoing fight against illegal crude oil activities in the Niger Delta region.
The statement further reaffirmed Tompolo’s loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his support for the President’s renewed hope agenda. It added that Tompolo remains committed to the total eradication of illegal oil activities and stands firmly behind President Tinubu’s administration and second-term ambition.
“The Federal Government and the general public should disregard the said publication in its entirety. High Chief Government Ekpemupolo has nothing to do with the issue of Nnamdi Kanu and remains focused on his duties in protecting the nation’s oil assets.”
The statement concludes by urging Nigerians to ignore fake news aimed at causing division or mischief within the Niger Delta region
THN reported that the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was unable to begin his defence on Friday in his ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu told the court he could not proceed because he had not been given access to the case file, which he said is necessary for him to adequately prepare his defence.
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