Metro

Judge Orders Probe Of Court Registrar For Destroying Evidence In N10bn Fraud Trial

Published

3 months ago

February 5, 2026

Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to investigate his court registrar, Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu, as well as the 2nd defendant in an alleged N10 billion fraud trial, Daudu Sulaiman, for allegedly tampering with exhibits tendered before the court.

The exhibits were tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to establish the N10 billion fraud charges against Mr Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State.

The order followed the disclosure by the judge that Zubairu confessed to him that Sulaiman, one of the accused persons in the trial, approached him to use a code to wipe off some significant messages contained in WhatsApp chats of the second defendant in a telephone set deposited with the court.

Justice Omotosho played Zubairu’s confessions in the open court and further directed him to tell the court what transpired between him and the second defendant.

Addressing the court, the judge said: “I have to disclose it because that is what the Chief Judge told us, to ensure we disclose such a thing as early as possible. We have a policy of discovery and disclosure at the Federal High Court. We have zero tolerance for this kind of attitude. The person involved is here, I will call him so that you will hear from the horse’s mouth.”

Zubairu went ahead to tell the court how he was approached by Sulaiman.

According to him, the second defendant asked him what he wanted and he told him that he had accommodation challenges.

“I was asked to delete some certain information, some WhatsApp messages in the exhibits on the promise that I will be given a house,” he said.

Justice Omotosho also allowed the prosecution counsel, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, to direct the Investigation Officer, Muhammed Audu Abubakar, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to disclose before the court if indeed the chats were deleted from the phone.

Abubakar told the court that information contained in Exhibits N and O, including chats on several dates from 2020 to 2022, had been deleted.

Earlier, Justice Omotosho asked the registrar the specific chat he deleted but he told the court that he could not remember, adding that he knew he opened only two chats. “I can’t remember but I opened only two chats,” he said.

To confirm that many of the chats had been deleted, Oyedepo told the witness to go through Exhibit N, particularly the conversation involving the Director General, Government House.

The witness informed the court that chats between December 3, 2020 and December 28, 2020 had been deleted.

“There was no chat on 23 December, it stopped on December 22 and continued on 29 December, 2020,” he stated.

He was also asked to check page 196 of the exhibit, that is on 13 January, 2021. He informed that court that the chat there read, “Abdurasheed will bring it to Abuja now”.

“On 22 January, 2021, the chats “Hudu will bring it now,” was deleted. There is nothing here on the phone. It has been deleted. What we had on 27 January, “Hudu is bringing it,” has been deleted,” the witness added.

The witness further informed the court that he came across the chat in the course of investigation. “I came across this chat at the time of investigation. On 26 January, 2021, Hudu is bringing N100 million”, has also been deleted.”

The witness informed the court that there is no chat on 26 January, 2021.

He added, “On 30 January 2021, “N60m is on transit from Friday… they are on their way coming,” has been deleted.

“Hudu is on his way to Abuja… he is also coming with N30m,” has been deleted.

“30 August 2021, “Mr Ododo has collected N50m and will be coming tomorrow to Abuja”, has been deleted.

“On page 296, the chat “Hudu is on his way, coming with N93m, N7m for TJ and for 2 January 2022,” has been deleted,” the witness further explained.

Oyedepo noted that “on page 297, there was a reference to Rabiu, that is on 28 February 2022.” Responding, the witness said, “It is not here my Lord. It has also been deleted.”

Abubakar went through other chat records and confirmed that vital information contained in the exhibit (the phone) had indeed been deleted.

Reacting to the deleted chats, Oyedepo demanded that “this issue be investigated and the report brought to your Lordship”.

He added, “There is a very urgent irresistible suspicion that Exhibit N which contains crucial evidence have been tempered with.

“We apply that the Lordship grant an order revoking the bail of the defendant and order forensic investigation of Exhibit N.”

The defence counsel expressed shock at the development but urged the court to await the outcome of the forensic investigation of the matter. “I will urge my lord to await the outcome of the investigation. “

In response, Justice Omotosho directed that the matter should be investigated by the police and DSS and adjourned the matter to February 9, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.