EFCC Secures  Court Order for Forfeiture of Mining Site, Trucks, Lithium Stones to FG as well as jail terms for Fraudsters

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is taking its fight against economic sabotage and financial crimes to all corners of the country. In a case filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ikoyi, through its counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, seeking an order for the custody and disposal of the properties pursuant to Section 330 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and other relevant laws, in addition to an order empowering the EFCC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency and court officials, to dispose of the forfeited assets and deposit the proceeds into an interest-bearing account pending the conclusion of the criminal proceedings, Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 22, 2026, ordered the final forfeiture of properties recovered from Chinese and Nigerians involved in illegal mining activities in Ogun State to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The forfeited assets include a mining site located behind the Baale’s Palace on Ileposo Street, adjacent to 59 Street, Ode-Remo, Ogun State; a Toyota 4Runner SUV with registration number AWE 261 AE; two trucks laden with substantial quantities of mica and lithium stones; and a 40-foot container containing substantial quantities of mica and lithium stones.

The judge made the order, following a motion filed by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ikoyi, through its counsel, Bilkisu Buhari,

According to an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, intelligence reports revealed that several individuals, including Chinese and Nigerians, were involved in the illegal mining and trade of mineral resources, particularly mica and lithium stones.

The affidavit further revealed that the syndicate mined and transported the mineral resources from various locations across Nigeria to a site in Ode-Remo Local Government Area of Ogun State, where the minerals were sorted, processed and prepared for export through Apapa Wharf and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

It was also revealed that operatives of the Commission carried out a sting operation in the early hours of Friday, May 9, 2025, leading to the arrest of two Chinese  alleged to be kingpins and six Nigerians at the mining site.

Items recovered during the operation included the Toyota SUV, three trucks loaded with substantial quantities of mica and lithium stones, as well as a 40-foot container containing 3,210 bags of the mineral resources.

According to the affidavit, the properties listed in the schedule were at risk of rapid deterioration due to the rainy season and were already losing economic value.

It was also stated in the affidavit that the principal actors involved in the illegal activities had already been arraigned before the court on charges relating to the unauthorised dealing in mineral resources.

After reviewing the affidavit evidence and submissions by the Commission, Justice Osiagor granted the application and ordered the final forfeiture and disposal of the assets.

The judge also directed that the proceeds be paid into an interest-bearing account pending the criminal trial of the defendants.

Meanwhile, the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 21, 2026 arraigned Aisha Alkali Wakil, Sa’idu Tahiru Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyede before Justice Jude K. Dagat of the Borno State Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri.

 

The defendants were arraigned on a two -count amended charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the gross sum of N42,000,000.00 (Forty Two Million Naira).

Count two reads: “That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Sa’idu Tahiru Daura and Prince Lawan Shoyede, whilst being Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager and Country Director respectively of Complete  Care and  Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organization), sometime in the year 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly induced one ABAKS VENTURES NIGERIA LIMITED to deliver to you the sum of N42,000,000.00 (Forty Two Million Naira) only, money meant for completion of a purported sub-leased contract awarded to one Sani M. Adamu (MD SANI SMART GLOBAL VENTURES) by the said Non- Governmental Organisation, which fact you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”

Wakil and Shoyede pleaded “not guilty” to the charge while Daura pleaded “guilty” to the charge .

 

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, N.T Iko prayed the court to sentence Daura accordingly and seek for an adjournment to commence trial against Wakil and Shoyede.

 

Thereafter, Justice Dagat adjourned the matter till June 25, 2026 for sentencing and commencement of trial of Daura.  He  remanded the defendants in Maiduguri Maximum Correctional facility.

According to Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head,Media and Publicity, the defendants’ journey to the Correctional facility started when they allegedly obtained N42m from petitioners  for the completion of a purported sub-leased contract which they knew to be false.

In another development, the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission secured the conviction and sentence of Obadofin Daniel Bamise and Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu, before Justice A.A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna for theft.

Both convicts are former officials of a new generation bank. They were prosecuted on separate one-count charges of theft.

Obadofin’s charge reads: “That you, Obadofin Bamise Daniel sometime between the 5th of November, 2024 and 23rd of January, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being an employee of Access Bank Plc did in your capacity as an employee committed theft in the sum of N433,000.00 (Four Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand Naira only) being property in possession of Access Bank Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 274 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under same Law.”

That of Yakubu reads: “That you, Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu sometimes between the 5th of November, 2024 and 23rd of January, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being an employee of Access Bank Plc did in your capacity as an employee committed theft in the sum of N806,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira only) being property in possession of Access Bank Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 274 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under same Law.”

 

They pleaded “guilty,” following which the prosecution counsel, Moses Arumemi urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

Justice Bello, thereafter convicted and sentenced both of them to seven years imprisonment each or to pay N50,000 ( Fifty Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.

 

Investigations showed that the convicts performed unauthorised withdrawals on the accounts of 305 customers of the bank, who were beneficiaries of the federal government’s Palliative Scheme, totaling N7,842,700.00 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira). They posted the unauthorised withdrawals to the Palliative Scheme’s coordinators’ accounts.

 

Similarly, the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday  May 20, 2026 secured the conviction and sentence of two internet fraudsters  before Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie of the Federal High Court sitting in Calabar Cross River State.

They pleaded ‘guilty’ to  two- count separate charges preferred against them by the Commission.

One of the charges read: ‘That you, IKE EUSTA-PRINCE EZIOMUME “M” sometime between 2024 and 2026 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court did take possession and control of $200 (Two Hundred United States Dollars) and €260 (Two Hundred and Sixty Euros) intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit; obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section  18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and punishable under the Section 18(3) of the same Act’.

Another charge reads: ‘That you, VICTOR PIUS NNAEGBO “M” sometime between 2024 and 2026 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court did take possession and control of €530 (Five Hundred and Thirty Euros) intentionally knowing that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence  contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and punishable under the Section 18(3) of the same Act’.

 

In view of their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel  Khamis Mahmud,  reviewed the facts of the case and prayed the court to convict and sentence them in accordance with the provisions of the law.  Defence counsel,  Douglas Besong did not object but prayed the court to be lenient in sentencing the defendants.

After listening to both counsel, Justice Oghoghorie convicted and sentenced Ike Eusta-Prince Eziomume to two years jail term with an option of a fine of N500, 000.00 ( Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and to restitute $200 (Two Hundred USD), and €260  (Two Hundred and Sixty Euros) to his victims.

While Victor Pius  Nnaegbo got two years jail term with a N1,000,000.00 (One Million  Naira) fine option and to restitute the sum of €530 (Five Hundred  and Thirty Euros) to his victim.

They both forfeited the gadgets used in committing the said crimes.

 

The convicts were arrested on May 5 and 12, 2026, at  Umuahia and Aba Areas of Abia State. They were subsequently charged to court and convicted.