Crime
Alleged N919m fraud: Court moves arraignment of ex-NHIS boss, Yusuf to Feb. 3

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Kuje, on Thursday adjourned to February 3, 2025, the arraignment of former Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Professor Usman Yusuf.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Wednesday arrested Yusuf and brought him before the court on Thursday for arraignment on allegations of fraud.
A statement by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the arraignment was, however, moved to Monday to allow for amendment of the charges.
The defence counsel, Isah Dokto Haruna, who held brief for the lead defence counsel, O.I.Habeeb, SAN, made an application for bail.
The court turned down the application on account of the defendant’s deferred arraignment.
Justice Chinyere E. Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter till February 3, 2025, for arraignment and ruled that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Commission.
Yusuf’s arrest and prosecution followed a petition submitted to the Federal Government during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, over alleged misconduct and fraudulent practices.
It was gathered that Yusuf was relieved of his appointment in 2019 by Buhari, seven months after he was recommended for dismissal by a fact-finding panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health over alleged mismanagement of N919 million.
Crime
JUST IN: Nigerian Govt witness tenders Ahmed Gulak’s death certificate in Nnamdi Kanu’s trial

A Federal Government witness, identified as BBB, on Wednesday tendered a certified true copy (CTC) of the death certificate of Ahmed Gulak, in the ongoing terrorism trial of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Gulak, a former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was killed by suspected IPOB members in 2012.
The News Agency of Nigerial reports that BBB, who was the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), tendered the document before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja while being led in evidence by the Federal Government’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
Upon resumed hearing, Awomolo informed the court that though the matter was scheduled for cross examination of PW-2, he had a question to ask the witness.
“We ask for a permission to ask a question my lord,” he said.
Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, did not oppose Awomolo’s application and the judge directed him to go ahead.
Awomolo then asked BBB that one of the last evidence he gave was that during the radio broadcast made by Kanu, he called for a sit-at-home, leading to the death of Gulak.
The witness confirmed the statement. He said he participated in some of the investigations leading to Gulak’s death.
Besides he said he had a certificate of his death in the courtroom from the police dated July 18, 2021.
According to the witness, the document is a certified true copy of the medical report on Gulak.
When the document was shown to Kanu’s lawyer, he said he has no objection and Justice Omotosho admitted it in evidence and marked it as Exhibit PWJ.
Awomolo then sought the court’s permission for the document to be given to the witness to read in the open court.
BBB, who read the content of the death certificate, said the document was from the Nigeria Police, Owerri in Imo State, concerning Gulak, who was allegedly shot dead by IPOB members in 2021.
After the question, Agabi proceeded to cross examine the witness.
Crime
JUST IN: Tompolo has questions to answer – EFCC breaks silence on viral video

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has said Chief Government Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, has questions to answer concerning a viral video clip which showed him allegedly engaging in naira abuse.
Nigerians on Sunday dared the Commission to arrest Tompolo like it did to other offenders.
The outrage was ignited by a viral video posted on X by one Harrison A, who tweets as #harreceipts with the caption, ‘EFCC, see Tompolo and the Naira o’.
The video clip captured parts of Tompolo’s 54th birthday celebration in April.It showed the Niger Delta chieftain dancing while a man lavishly sprayed N1,000 notes before him.
Responding to the demands by netizens, EFCC in a post on its official X handle on Monday said: “Nobody is above the law. Tompolo will have questions to answer!”
Crime
Nigeria Police Nabs Two Countrymen Allegedly Behind Transnational Sex and Robbery Crimes

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends all operatives involved in these high-profile arrests for their professionalism, diligence, and dedication to upholding Nigeria’s international law enforcement obligations.
The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against transnational organized crime with the arrest of two internationally wanted fugitives: Felix Omoregie alias “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” a suspected ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities, and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang
In a statement dated May 7, 2025, with the reference number Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.6/433, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force PRO, Force HQ Abuja, said: “Felix Omoregie, the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation, had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice issued on 19th December 2023, and was arrested in Benin City, Edo State, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by Police operatives.
He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City.
Omoregie is accused of trafficking young Nigerian women, including minors, to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
Victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000 used to manipulate and control them.
His criminal network involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remitted proceeds to him.
Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organization leadership, Omoregie fled to Nigeria.
Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada.
In a separate operation, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, apprehended 37-year-old Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State.
Ezeje is wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a series of serious crimes, including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities.
Intelligence gathered reveals that Ezeje continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria.
He has been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a targeted hit on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.
The arrest was the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police.
The arraignment of Okwudili Ezeje is expected to take place shortly.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commends all operatives involved in these high-profile arrests for their professionalism, diligence, and dedication to upholding Nigeria’s international law enforcement obligations.
The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to enhancing its global policing partnerships and ensuring that fugitives find no safe haven within our borders.
These arrests serve as a clear message that criminal elements, no matter how far they run or how long they hide, will be brought to justice.
The Force calls on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative in the fight against organized crime, both at home and abroad.”
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