Metro

Alleged $6.3m Fraud: Court Defers Trial Of 3 CBN Officials

Published

6 months ago

February 28, 2025

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, fixed November 3 for the arraignment of three staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, that allegedly defrauded the Federal Government to the tune of $6.3million.

The defendants- Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar and Odoh Ochene- were said to have used bogus letters from the Presidency and the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) prior to the 2023 general elections.

According to the prosecution, the trio, armed with the fake letters, obtained the money in cash from the apex bank on a false claim that it was meant for the settlement of foreign election observers.

Meanwhile, though the case was originally fixed for the defendants to be docked on Thursday, however, Government lawyer, Mr. Celestine Odoh, informed the court that they had since escaped from the country.

According to the prosecution counsel, every effort to locate them have proved abortive, a situation he said led FG to solicit for help from the International Police, Interpol.

Odoh told the court that so far, whereabouts of the defendants remained unknown as the Interpol had yet to fish them out from where they are hiding outside the shores of the country.

He decried that the accused persons, who are on the “Watchlist”, have not surfaced in any area where Interpol could locate and arrest them.

Consequently, he prayed the court for a long adjournment to enable the government intensify efforts with a view to bringing the defendants to justice.

While acceding to the adjournment request, trial Justice Inyang Ekwo noted that it has been over a year since the court issued a warrant of arrest against the three defendants.

It will be recalled that the office of the then Special Investigator of the CBN, Mr. Jim Obazee, had applied to the court and obtained a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendants.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had in the charge it filed before the court, alleged that the defendants had on February 8, 2023, connived to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that the money was requested by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha “vide a letter dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/.”

Metro

Published

30 seconds ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

…She smokes tobacco, drinks beer —Husband

This is in a matter where Eid Phiri of Airstrip Compound, Lusaka, Zambia, sued Lona Chinta of the same address for divorce.

According to Zambia Observer, when the matter came up for hearing, in the Mazabuka Court, Eid Phiri stated that he wanted to divorce his wife of 11 years for refusing to follow Islamic doctrine.

He further told the court that his wife also smokes pounded tobacco, locally called “nsunko” and is always found with her female friends who drink beer.

Eid complained that Lona, has a habit of joining saving groups and always fail to pay back the credit.

But in defense, Lona accused Eid of not being faithful to her, saying that he comes home with used condoms.

The couple who have two children got married in 2012 after Eid impregnated Lona and was charged K8,000 as damage and bride price but only paid K3,000.

Metro

I’m No Longer Interested In My 4-month-old Marriage To My Husband — Wife

Published

5 minutes ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

...I still love her — Husband

19-year-old housewife, Sumayya Muhammead, has prayed a Sharia Court sitting in Magajin, kaduna State, to dissolve her four-month-old marriage to her husband, Umar Imam through Khul.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Khul is a form of divorce in which the releases herself from the marriage tie by paying consideration to the husband.

Sumayya through her counsel, Mr I.T Sanusi, said she was ready to the N100, 000 she received from her husband to redeem herself.

She also stated that Umar owed her 10, 000 and thus pleaded with the court to help her recover it from him.

“I am not pregnant and I do not have a child. I am no longer interested in the union.”

On his side, the defendant stated that he loved his wife and therefore pleaded for more time to reconcile with her.

He further stated that he owed his wife N9,500 and not N10, 000.

The judge, Mallam Kyuadal , adjourned the case.

Metro

My Wife Is Cheating On Me, I Want Divorce —Husband

Published

11 minutes ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

…I dated other men cos’ he neglected me —Wife

A man, Olalekan, has dragged his wife, Omolara, before Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking that their union be dissolved, because he no longer have trust in her.

According to Olalekan, Omolara was cheating on him, threatening his life and planning to abscond with their only child.

The plaintiff said he could no longer tolerate the defendant’s atrocities, which was why he came to court.

He requested an order restricting his wife from further threatening him and interfering with his private life.

Omolara pleaded liable to the claims brought against her and also conceded to divorce.

Olalekan in his evidence said, ’’My wife has betrayed the trust I have in her. She is promiscuous and has been having affairs with different men.

“I tendered before her the proofs I have of all her illicit affairs and she could not deny them.

“She took to threatening to deal with me after I laid bare her secrets before her and refused that I had rest of mind.

“My lord, Omolara did the worst when she attempted to abscond with our only child. I foiled her plan which is one of the reasons she has not ceased to threaten me.

“I pray the court to end our relationship and grant me custody of our child in order to guide her from taking after her mother’s immoral lifestyle.

“I further request an order restricting her from threatening me, coming to my place of abode or work place to fight me, or interfere with my private life.”

Omolara in her response said, ’’All that my husband said is true.

“I sought a means of survival for myself because he neglected me and failed to meet my needs.

“I am also no longer interested in our marriage, which was why I decided I would walk out of it taking our child along with me.”

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, after she had heard both parties, stated that the defendant, having admitted to the claims brought against her, the court had no other excuse than to grant the plaintiff the reliefs he sought.

Ruling, Akintayo dissolved their wedlock and granted the plaintiff his prayers.