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EFCC arraigns man for alleged N8.1m land fraud in Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Paulinus Ani before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N8, 130, 000. 00 (Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira).

The lone count charge reads: “That you, Paulinus Ani sometime between October, 2015 and June, 2018 at Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, induced one Severus Ifeanyi Odoziobodo to deliver to you the sum of N8, 130, 000. 00 (Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) under the pretence that you would sell to him (7) plots of land: three (3) plots at Emene Industrial/Residential Layout and four (4) plots at Independence Layout Phase II, Enugu, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of the 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

Ani pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Nasir Umar prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu Correctional Facility.

However, the defence counsel, O. S. Imaji informed the court about a pending bail application before it and thereafter moved the said application, urging the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms, adding that the defendant had a reliable surety.

Responding, the prosecution vehemently opposed the said application on the ground that “land scam is becoming prevalent in Enugu”, urging the court to dismiss the said application.

After listening to both sides, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum who must be residents of Enugu state.

The defendant was remanded at the Enugu Correctional Facility, pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to January 23, 2025 for trial.

The defendant’s issue with the court began on January 1, 2021 when the Commission received a petition from one Ifeanyi Odoziobodo alleging that in 2016, the defendant, who was an alleged staff of Ministry of Land and Urban Development, Enugu State offered him some plots of land in Emene and Independence Layout of the State which he claimed were up for allocation to any prospective buyer.

After being presented with allocation papers to that effect, the petitioner paid N8, 130, 000. 00 to the defendant, not knowing that the said plots of land had already been sold to other persons who have been issued Certificates of Occupancy.

Efforts made by the defendant to recover his money proved abortive.

News

EFCC seals Kaduna hotel for breaching money laundering act

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has sealed up Hampton Hilton Hotel and Apartments, Kaduna, for non-compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations of the Financial Action Task Force, FATF for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs.

The entity was found to have committed multiple infractions in the course of the first evaluation carried out on it, on June 4, 2024, leading to the issuance of administrative sanctions to it by SCUML.

It was also found to have committed further infractions following the compliance evaluation of June 13, 2025, for which it was slammed N2,300,000.00 (Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, payable within seven days and with instruction to ensure full compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations or face further consequences.

While it refused to pay the fine, it, as well, dishonoured SCUML’s invite to show up for compliance evaluation, resulting in the sealing of the premises.

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, ensures DNFBPs’ compliance with Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations.

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Buhari could have long been dead if he had chosen to be treated in Nigeria -Fmr aide Adesina

Former spokesperson to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has defended the decision of late President Buhari to always seek medical attention abroad before and after he left office.

In a chat with Channels TV this morning, Adesina who served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Buhari said;

‘’Buhari always had his medical in London, even when he was not in office. So, it’s not about the time he was president alone. He had always had it in London and then, you have to be alive first to get certain things corrected in your country. If he had said, ‘I will do my medical in Nigeria just as a show-off or something,’ he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country but he needed to be alive to lead the country to a point where we will have that expertise”

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Buhari’s body arrives in Daura from Katsina for final burial

The remains of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has arrived in his hometown of Daura from Katsina ahead of his burial later today.

The body, which was flown into the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina from the United Kingdom earlier in the day, was received with full state protocol by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, and members of the late president’s family.

From the airport, the late leader’s remains were transported by a specially prepared ambulance under tight security to Daura, a journey marked by solemnity and respect, with hundreds of residents lining parts of the route to pay their final respects.

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and returned as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, died in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

According to Islamic tradition, he will be buried later today at his private residence in Daura.

Dignitaries, traditional rulers, political leaders, and sympathizers from across Nigeria have already gathered in Daura for the Janazah prayers and final interment, with security operatives deployed across the ancient town to ensure a peaceful ceremony