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EFCC to arraign Emefiele May 15 on three-count amended charge

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in a Federal Capital Territory court on May 15 on a three-count amended charge.

In the fresh charge, the EFCC alleges that Emefiele disobeyed the law’s direction with the intent to cause injury to the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Additionally, he is accused of unlawfully approving the withdrawal of N124.8 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

The arraignment, initially slated before Justice Maryan Anenih, was postponed because all parties were not present in court. The prosecution requested an adjournment, citing Emefiele’s trial in another court in Lagos. The judge then rescheduled the arraignment for May 15.

Emefiele is also facing trial before Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT High Court on a 20-count amended charge, brought against him by the EFCC. He is accused of criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy to obtain money by false pretense during his tenure as CBN governor.

On January 8, Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the FCT High Court awarded N100 million damages in favor of Emefiele against the Federal Government and the EFCC. The judge further restrained the federal government and its agents from arresting Emefiele without obtaining an order from a competent court.

Justice Adeniyi held that there was no evidence to show that releasing Emefiele would interfere with the investigation, and prolonged detention without arraignment violated his fundamental rights.

Emefiele had approached the court to enforce his fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement. He argued that his continued detention since June 10, 2023, without being arraigned, was unlawful and violated his rights guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

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ALLEGED TERRORISM: Witness Says Kanu Founder Of Eastern Security Network ‎‎

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Government’s second witness in the ongoing trial of Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu says the secessionist leader is the founder of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and operator of Radio Biafra.‎‎

At the resumed hearing on the matter, the second prosecution witness, identified as BBB, testified that he was assigned by the then Attorney General of the Federation to investigate Kanu. ‎‎

But attempts by the prosecution to tender a letter authorising the investigation was objected by Agabi on grounds that the document was not front loaded.

This prompted the prosecution’s withdrawal of the document, a request granted by the court. ‎‎

The court, therefore, ordered that all materials intended for the trial must be served in advance and listed properly, stressing that no document would be admitted unless previously disclosed to the defence.‎‎

In another aspect, the presiding judge, James Omotosho, has instructed that only 16 out of the 26 listed would be recognised in court.

This followed a bit of confusion about legal representation, where a certain Charles Ude claimed to be a member of Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team. ‎‎

But lead defence counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN, disassociated the team from Ude’s claim, with Kanu affirming that Agabi remains his official legal representative.

‎‎Similarly, the court has barred a relative of the defendant, Favour Kano, from attending three successive proceedings of the court, after she admitted doing a live stream while the judge was seated.

Justice Omotosho revealed she had also posted the content online. ‎‎The matter was subsequently adjourned to May 7 for the continuation of the examination-in-chief of the second prosecution witness.‎‎

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JUST IN: Bandits Attack Three Bauchi Villages, Kill Many Villagers, professional Hunters

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An unconfirmed number of people have been killed in an ambush attack by bandits on a combined team of professional hunters from Duguri and Gwana District in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The bandits also killed many residents who fled from their villages following the attack which occurred on Sunday 4th May 2025, at about 5.40am.

The hunters were on a routine patrol along Duguri, Mansur, and the Dajin Madam forest bordering Bauchi and Plateau States when the armed bandits attacked them.

Details on the exact number of the hunters and residents killed are still sketchy but residents say nine people were killed, while some say that the number could be as high as 15.

The Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, who confirmed the incident in a statement to journalists on Monday did not give the exact number of casualties but said that many people were killed both on the side of the bandits and that of the hunters.

He said those killed also included civilian residents from Sabuwar Sara village, who were mercilessly shot by the bandits while attempting to flee from the attack.

Wakil also said the Commissioner of Police Bauchi State, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has deployed tactical teams to Mansur village in Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi following a visit to relevant stakeholders where he strongly condemned the recent killings, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives.

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JUST IN: Suspected herdsmen hijack fully loaded vehicle, kill driver, abduct passengers in Benue

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Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Sunday night hijacked a commercial vehicle along the Otukpo-Adoka road in Benue State, killing the driver and abducting all passengers on board.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. as the vehicle was en route to Otukpo from Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said that the attackers opened fire as soon as they sighted the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and veer off the road into nearby bushes after being hit by a bullet.

The assailants subsequently abducted all the passengers before abandoning the vehicle at the scene.

The body of the slain driver, identified as a native of Adoka, has been recovered and taken to his hometown.

Meanwhile, military personnel have arrived at the scene and launched a manhunt for the attackers.

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