The Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted former Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, of alleged N570 million money laundering charges filed against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, upheld the no-case submissions filed by Oyo-Ita and eight co-defendants, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case after about six years of trial.

‘Case Built on Speculation’

Delivering judgment, the court held that the EFCC’s case lacked substance.

“The case presented by the prosecution has no weight whatsoever,” the judge ruled, describing it as one built on “speculations, suspicions and shoddy investigation.”

Justice Omotosho further stated that the prosecution failed to establish the required predicate offences necessary to prove money laundering.

No Evidence of Illegality

The court held that there was no proof that funds allegedly linked to Oyo-Ita were proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to the judge, evidence before the court showed that contracts tied to the allegations were properly approved and executed.

He also ruled that estacodes, duty tour allowances, and air tickets referenced in the case were duly authorised.

“There is no proof before the court that estacodes or duty allowances were approved and subsequently collected without the corresponding trips being undertaken,” he said.

Weak Documentation, Missing Evidence

Justice Omotosho faulted the prosecution for failing to provide key documents, including travel approvals, official memos, and audit queries to support its claims.

“The prosecution has, in effect, invited the court to engage in speculation,” he added.

He also noted that Oyo-Ita was neither a director nor a shareholder in the companies allegedly linked to the transactions under investigation.

Confessional Statements Rejected

The court rejected confessional statements allegedly obtained from the defendants, ruling that they were not obtained in compliance with legal provisions.

The judge held that the EFCC failed to provide video recordings of the statement-taking process as required by law and consequently expunged the statements from evidence.

Background

Oyo-Ita was arraigned in March 2020 over allegations bordering on fraud involving duty tour allowances, estacodes, and contract kickbacks amounting to about N570 million.

During the trial, the EFCC called eight witnesses and tendered documentary exhibits. However, the defendants maintained that the prosecution failed to establish any ingredient of the offences to warrant them entering a defence.

With the ruling, the court discharged and acquitted all defendants on the 18-count charge, bringing the long-running case to a close.

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday admitted nine documentary exhibits in the ongoing alleged money laundering trial involving former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

The trial judge, Joyce Abdulmalik, admitted the documents after they were tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through its fourth prosecution witness.

Malami is standing trial alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy and alleged laundering of N8.7bn.

The anti-graft agency told the court that the offences contravene provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

During proceedings, the prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, informed the court that the documents were obtained following a request from the EFCC.

He explained that the bank provided both electronic and hard copies of account records linked to the defendants and several companies, including Rayhaan Hotels Limited and Rayhaan Bustan Agro Allied Limited.

According to the witness, the exhibits consist mainly of account opening documents and transaction statements covering several years of financial activities.

Bata disclosed that one of the accounts recorded total credits of over N383.6m between 2016 and 2023, while earlier transactions between 2012 and 2015 showed inflows exceeding N560.5m.

He further told the court that significant transactions were traced to the accounts, including a N194.7m inflow in November 2020 and multiple deposits amounting to hundreds of millions of naira in 2022.

The witness added that the documents reflected several other transactions running into billions of naira within the period under review.

Defence counsel, J. B. Daudu, initially objected to the admissibility of the documents, citing discrepancies in dates, but the court overruled the objection and admitted them as Exhibits D1 to D9.

Following the testimony, the defence requested more time to review the documents ahead of cross-examination.

Justice Abdulmalik granted the request and adjourned the case to May 13, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the Aisha Achimugu $13m forfeiture, ordering the final seizure of funds linked to Aisha Achimugu and her company, Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Ltd.

Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved the funds came from unlawful activities.

Court Rejects Claims in Forfeiture Case

Oceangate filed a suit to recover the funds. However, the court rejected its claims, stating that the company failed to provide a credible explanation for the source of the money.

Furthermore, the court dismissed the argument that the funds were gifts. It noted that Achimugu did not appear to defend the origin of the money, while no witness came forward to support the claim.

EFCC Strengthens Case with Evidence

The EFCC presented evidence linking the funds to suspicious financial transactions. As a result, the court held that the agency met all legal requirements to justify the forfeiture.

In addition, the court found that the company could not prove legitimate ownership or show any business activity capable of generating such funds.

Background to the Investigation

The case started in August 2025 when the court granted an interim forfeiture order. Subsequently, it directed the EFCC to publish the notice and invite interested parties to challenge it.

Later, investigators uncovered the company’s involvement in oil block licensing and large payments to the Federal Government.

Disputed Transactions Raise Concerns

The EFCC alleged that part of the funds came from cash transactions outside formal banking channels. Moreover, investigators traced the money to intermediaries and unlicensed operators.

In response, the company insisted the funds came from legitimate earnings and gifts. However, the court rejected the claims due to lack of evidence.

After reviewing all submissions, the court dismissed the company’s case and upheld the final forfeiture of the funds.

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A magistrate court in Ondo State has ordered the arrest and detention of a suspect in connection with an alleged land dispute that has drawn legal attention in the state capital.

The order was issued by a magistrate court sitting in Akure after the suspect, identified as Oba Adewale Sunday Boboye, reportedly failed to honour repeated court summons relating to the case.

Court documents indicate that the suspect is being investigated over allegations of forcefully entering a parcel of land belonging to Olrof Nigeria Limited and damaging property belonging to the company.

Allegations surrounding the land dispute

According to the charge filed before the court, the incident occurred on a parcel of land located along Igoba–Akure Road in the Igoba area of Akure.

The complainant alleged that the suspect unlawfully entered the property and carried out actions that resulted in damage to assets owned by the company.

Following the complaint, legal proceedings were initiated and the defendant was summoned to appear before the court to respond to the allegations.

However, court records show that the suspect failed to appear despite being formally invited to do so.

Further summons ignored

Legal proceedings in the matter were filed under Charge No: MAK/AMC/486/2025.

After the initial summons was reportedly ignored, the court issued another invitation to the suspect to appear before the magistrate.

Despite the second invitation, the defendant still failed to attend the hearing, prompting the court to take further action.

At the most recent sitting, I.O. Osobu appeared in court as the prosecutor handling the matter.

A.R. Omidougha represented the defendant, while Kehinde Aladedutire appeared for the nominal complainant in the dispute.

Court invokes criminal justice law

Presiding over the case, Senior Magistrate D.S. Sekoni invoked the provisions of Section 118 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Ondo State.

The law allows the court to compel the appearance of individuals who fail to comply with lawful summons issued during criminal proceedings.

Based on the provisions of the law, the magistrate ordered the arrest and detention of the suspect pending his appearance before the court.

The directive was contained in an official court document obtained through the office of the Chief Assistant Registrar, A.O. Akinola.

Suspect currently in detention

Following the court’s order, the suspect was reportedly taken into custody and is currently being detained at the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police overseeing Zone 17.

Nigeria Police Force officials are expected to ensure the suspect is presented before the court at the next hearing.

Sources familiar with the case also disclosed that the suspect had previously faced legal action over a similar offence.

Although details of the earlier conviction were not immediately available, the information was referenced during proceedings related to the current case.

Next court hearing scheduled

The court has adjourned the case to March 18, 2026, when the suspect is expected to be formally arraigned.

During the hearing, the court is expected to read the charges against the defendant and allow legal proceedings to begin fully.

Legal experts say land disputes remain one of the most common sources of litigation in several parts of Nigeria, particularly in rapidly expanding urban areas.

In many cases, disagreements over property ownership, land titles and boundary claims often lead to prolonged legal battles between individuals, companies and communities.

Observers say the case highlights the importance of respecting court processes and complying with legal summons issued by judicial authorities.

Failure to appear before the court when summoned can lead to contempt proceedings, arrest warrants and additional legal consequences beyond the original charges.

As the case moves forward, the court will determine whether the allegations surrounding the disputed property and the alleged contempt of court can be substantiated through evidence presented during trial proceedings.

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The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has fixed November 13, 2025, to hear the ongoing dispute over the Apo Resettlement Market Scheme. The case was postponed after the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, was absent due to official engagements.

The dispute involves AMAC Investment and Development Company and two others as claimants, and Dr. Shuaibu Musari with Techs and Concretes Nigeria Limited as defendants. The defendants are asking the court to impose ₦850 million in punitive damages for alleged disobedience of an injunction that stopped construction on the site.

Despite the April 15, 2025, court order, the defendants claim the project continued in violation of the directive. They have also requested that security agencies seal the property or demolish structures built against the injunction.

The case concerns a joint venture agreement for the development of Plot 1729, Apo District. Justice Halilu had earlier ruled that Techs and Concretes had a valid legal interest in the project and granted the injunction to preserve the status quo.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mr. Garuba Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration at the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, to 24 years in prison for the fraudulent diversion of ₦318 million in public funds.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Wednesday, convicting Duku on a six-count charge of corruption and money laundering brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to the ICPC, Duku diverted the funds between 2012 and 2013 into his personal Fidelity Bank account in multiple instalments, later transferring the money through Bureau de Change operators for unauthorized use.

The court dismissed Duku’s claim that the funds were handed to superiors due to lack of evidence. Justice Omotosho held that the ICPC had “proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” and described its evidence as “credible, consistent, and sufficient.”

Duku was sentenced to four years on each count, to run concurrently, or a fine totaling approximately ₦1.6 billion.

Reacting to the verdict, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare said the judgment “underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that public officers who betray the trust reposed in them are brought to justice.”

“No one entrusted with public funds is above the law,” he added.

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