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Eco bank staff sent to prison over alleged N228.4m

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An Abuja-based lawyer, Ridwan Abdulwahab was on Thursday ordered to be remanded in Kuje prison following his arraignment on charges bordering on perjury and defamation of character.

Magistrate Musa Sadiq of the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone Six, Abuja issued the order in a ruling in which he rejected an oral application for bail made by Abdulwahab’s lawyer, Kalat Jatu.

Abdulwahab, described as the Head of Legal Department of the EcoBank in the Northern Region, was arraigned on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police in the name of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

He was accused of giving false information on oath and defaming the character of Justice Charles Agbaza of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

IGP alleged that Abdulwahab deposed to an affidavit in which he gave false information in the bid to block his bank from releasing N228.4M judgment debt awarded against the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the judgment creditor, Vision Kam Jay.

In the said deposition, Abdulwahab allegedly claimed that the writ of execution used to effect implementation of agl garnishee absolute order issued against EcoBank, ordering the release of the judgment creditor was not signed by Justice Agbaza.

The debt arose from a judgment got against ECOWAS by a firm, Vision Kam Jay, following a dispute over contractual disagreement.

In the FIR, the IGP said the EcoBank complied with the garnishee order absolute by paying the judgment debt into the firm’s account in 2020 but the bank immediately placed a “Post No Debt” (PND) on the same account, making it impossible for the owner of the fund to access it.

In protest, the firm filed a direct complaint against Abdulwahab, accusing him of giving false evidence. The complaint was later referred to the Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG, Zone 7 for investigation and report.

In its report, the AIG Zone 7 found that contrary to the claim of the accused person, the writ of execution for garnishee absolute, was dully signed by Justice Agbaza before the court order was enforced.

The police found that the writ used for the enforcement of the judgment was signed by Justice Agbaza of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in compliance with orders of courts.

The lawyer was said to have made the false deposition in sympathy with ECOWAS and as a ploy to block the judgment creditor from accessing the fund.

He was then charged with perjury contrary to sections 158 and 392 of the Penal Code, laws of Northern Nigeria.

Abdulwahab pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him on Thursday, following which his lawyer made oral application for bail, which the prosecuting lawyer, Bale Nimnan objected to .

Ruling, Magistrate Sadiq ordered the defence lawyer to file a formal bail application, ordered the remand of the defendant in prison and adjourned till October 7.

 

 

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Supreme Court to rule on ADC, PDP cases Thursday

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.

While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.

 

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Tinubu to reconstitute NHRC board, retains Ojukwu as ES/CEO

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President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.

Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.

Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.

Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.

The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.

He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.

If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.

Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.

 

 

 

 

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Breaking: EFCC investigates Pastor Jerry Eze over alleged money laundering

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.

According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.

“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.

“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.

“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.

The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.

He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.

“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.

“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.

The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.

He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.

The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.

 

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