News
Emefiele loses bid to stop $4.5bn, N2.8bn fraud trial

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has lost the chance to stop the $4.5bn, N2.8bn fraud trial after the Lagos State Special Offences Court, on Wednesday, dismissed an application filed by the former governor, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the fraud charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his ruling, held that the court had the jurisdiction to try Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile.
The judge, however, struck out four of the 26 counts filed by the EFCC against the defendants for lack of jurisdiction.
Justice Oshodi explained: “Allocation of foreign exchange without reason is not defined as an offence under any written law. The objection to counts one to four succeeds and is hereby struck out.
“The objection challenging the court’s territorial jurisdiction over counts eight to 26 fails and is hereby dismissed.
“The prosecution has established sufficient territorial nexus in this case.
”The judge subsequently adjourned the case for trial continuation on February 24, 2025.
The EFCC had arraigned Emefiele on 26 charges, bordering on abuse of office and illegal allocation of $4.5bn and N2.8bn.
At the last adjourned date on December 12, 2024, Emefiele’s counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case in Lagos.Ojo contended that the alleged offences, including abuse of office, fell outside the territorial reach of the Lagos Special Offences Court.
He also argued that the charges violated Section 36(12) of the Nigerian constitution, asserting that the alleged offences were not legally recognised under Nigerian law.
Furthermore, Ojo emphasised that since the Lagos State House of Assembly does not have legislative authority over matters on the Exclusive Legislative List, Section 73 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2011), under which counts one to four were filed, cannot apply extraterritorially to the alleged abuse of office by Emefiele.
Ojo added that a court’s territorial jurisdiction is limited to the geographical area within which its authority can be exercised and urged the court to strike out counts one to four of the amended charges filed by the EFCC on April 4, 2024.
In response, EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), argued that the court had the authority to hear the case.
Oyedepo contended that the alleged crimes were economic and financial in nature, falling within the EFCC’s jurisdiction.
He also maintained that substantial evidence supported Lagos as the appropriate venue for the trial.
According to Oyedepo, the subject matter of the charges clearly fell within the court’s jurisdiction since the offences were committed within its territorial reach.
He noted that evidence and witness testimonies pointed to Lagos as the proper location for the trial and argued that the objections raised by Emefiele’s legal team lacked factual or evidential support.
Following the arguments, Justice Oshodi initially adjourned the case to January 7, 2025, for a ruling on the application challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
However, the ruling was not ready on that date, prompting an adjournment to Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
The case has now been adjourned to February 24 and 26, 2025, for the continuation of trial.
News
Reps Launch Investigation into NPF Amidst Allegations of N50 Billion Procurement Fraud

House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the alleged contract racketeering in the Nigerian Police amounting to billions of naira.
The decision was taken after a motion of urgent national importance moved by the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Abia, Rep. Ibe Osonwa during the plenary on Thursday in Abuja.
Mr Osonwa had raised concerns over the alleged award of N6 billion contact by the Nigerian Police Procurement department without due process which according to him was erosion of public trust.
“The Nigeria Police Force Procurement department allegedly awarded N 6 billion contract to Crown Natures Ltd.
By splitting it into 66 separate contracts in a deliberate attempt to circumvent the public procurement Act of 2007 particularly in procurement of uniforms,” he said.
The lawmaker who expressed concern over the violation of section 214 of the 1999 Constitution as amended by the Police, called for urgent action to address the allegation.
Mr Osonwa, further called the attention of his colleagues to undermining of the country’s internal security architecture by the Nigeria Police with its award of contract for procurement of arms to private companies in violation to procurement rules.
The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas referred the motion to the committee on public accounts and public procurement for further legislative actions.
News
Peter Obi’s brother Lagos Property: We didn’t carry out the demolition – Omotosho
Omotoso said Obi’s allegations on the demolition are “disturbing and without facts

• Peter Obi at the scene of the demolished property
The Lagos State Government has commenced an investigation into the demolition of a property belonging to the brother of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi.
Obi had alleged that a property belonging to his younger brother was demolished in the Ikeja area of Lagos State without a court order.
Reacting to the demolition via a statement on Thursday, June 26, the Lagos State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said no agency was involved in the demolition.
Omotoso added that the investigation will help clarify the circumstances surrounding the demolition and ensure that any necessary actions are taken.
The former governor of Anambra State, in a post on his X account on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, disclosed that the property owned by his brother’s company had stood for over 15 years before it was demolished.
Omotoso said Obi’s allegations on the demolition are “disturbing and without facts”.
The commissioner stated: “We wish to categorically state that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) or any other arm of the Lagos State Government did not carry out the said demolition.
“Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde, Special Adviser, eGIS & Urban Development, who supervises LASBCA, has confirmed that the agency was not involved in the demolition.
“The Lagos State Government is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
“We will not tolerate any acts of lawlessness or violations of extant laws. Any individual or group found involved in such acts will be brought to justice,” he said.
News
BREAKING: President Tinubu Vetoes NDLEA Bill Due to Crime Proceeds Clause

President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Bill, 2025 into law.
The President’s decision not to sign the bill passed by both chambers of the National Assembly was contained in a letter read in the Green Chamber on Thursday during plenary.
The President, citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), explained that the proposed law seeks to empower the NDLEA to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug-related crimes, a move he said contradicts existing financial regulations.
He noted that under the current system, “All proceeds of crime are paid into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account.
Disbursements to any recovery agency, including the NDLEA, can only be made by presidential approval, subject to the consent of the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.”
The President maintained there was no compelling reason to alter a process designed to uphold accountability through executive and legislative oversight.
Details later….
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