EFCC Secures Public Summons Against Yahaya Bello In ₦110bn Case

  Justice Maryanne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued a public summons for former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to appear in court to respond to a fresh 16-count indictment. The summons requires Bello to attend court on October 24 for his arraignment, alongside co-defendants Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu. The public summons was ordered following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In her ruling, Justice Anenih directed the EFCC to publish the summons in a widely circulated newspaper to ensure proper notification. Also, the court instructed the EFCC to post copies of the public summons at Bello’s last known address and in conspicuous locations within the court premises. The EFCC has reported difficulties in serving the charges, which were filed on September 24, alleging that Bello and the two co-defendants committed a criminal breach of trust involving a staggering ₦110.4 billion.

EFCC Summons Bobrisky and Very DarkMan in Connection With N15m Bribery Case

    EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede has invited Martins Otse, a.k.a VeryDarkMan, and Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, over bribery allegations against personnel of the Commission. This is as the Chairman of the Commission ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged bribery of some officers of the commission by Bobrisky. In a viral video circulating online shared by Martins Otse, a.k.a VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky alleged that some unnamed officers of the EFCC collected the sum of N15,000,000 from him to drop money laundering charges against him. The money was said to have been paid into his company’s account number 2830002929, domiciled in Eco Bank Plc between September 2021 and April 2024. However, the offence was dropped following a prayer by the counsel for the EFCC, Suleiman Suleiman. He had to the court that the commission had agreed with Bobrisky. Suleiman was quoted to have said, “We have an agreement with the defendant, which will lead us to withdraw counts 5 and 6. In the circumstance, we’re humbly urging the court to strike out counts 5 and 6, leaving counts 1 to 4 alive.” However, in a statement on Tuesday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale said the invitation of Bobrisky and VDM to its Lagos Directorate was to assist investigators unearth the alleged bribery. Oyewale said, “The EFCC chairman has ordered an immediate investigation of alleged bribery allegations imputed to some officers of the Commission by Idris Okuneye(a.ka. Bobrisky) in a viral video circulating across the country. Okuneye, an ex-convict had alleged in the video powered by VeryDarkMan that some unnamed officers of the EFCC collected the sum of N15,000,000 from him to drop money laundering charges against him. “In a swift reaction, the EFCC’s boss has constituted a Team of Investigators to critically look into the allegations. To this end, the Commission hereby invites both Okuneye and Otse to make themselves available at its Lagos Directorate to assist investigators unearth the alleged bribery. “ Oyewale assured Nigerians that the allegations would be thoroughly investigated. He said, “The EFCC wishes to assure the public that the allegations would be thoroughly investigated and the result of the findings made public accordingly. The Commission is committed to its core values of integrity, courage, professionalism, and collaboration at all times. “ Recall that Bobrisky was initially arraigned on six charges bordering on naira abuse and money laundering to the tune of N127,780,877.98.