By Omoniyi David

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, alongside Prince Achem and Aminu Alhaji (at large), over an alleged N2.28 billion fraud.

The defendants appeared before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the FCT High Court, Zuba, on a 54-count amended charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and forgery.

Prosecution counsel Adeola Olarenwaju told the court that the original charge filed on December 3, 2025, was being substituted with the 54-count amended charge dated January 22, based on the attached proof of evidence. Justice Ogbonnaya granted the application.

The first count alleges that between May 2022 and February 2024, the defendants conspired to obtain N2.28 billion from Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, managing director of Diamond Leeds Limited, in violation of Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.

By Patrick Idowu

A coalition of indigenous groups and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has renewed calls for the creation of Abuja as Nigeria’s 37th state, proposing Gwagwalada Area Council as its capital.

The demand was made on Tuesday at the inaugural meeting of the FCT Stakeholders’ Assembly held in Gwagwalada, where speakers described the agitation as a collective struggle against systemic marginalisation, rather than an ethnic conflict.

President of the Assembly, Aliyu Daniel Kwali, said the choice of Gwagwalada was deliberate, describing it as the historical and cultural headquarters of the proposed State of Abuja.

He said the Assembly was united in its resolve to secure statehood for the FCT, stressing that the struggle was rooted in structural and economic exclusion embedded in Nigeria’s political system.

“Our struggle is not against ordinary Nigerians but against constitutional and administrative frameworks that exclude us from meaningful participation,” Kwali said.

He added that the Assembly, a non-profit and non-partisan civil society group, is committed to advancing the civic and constitutional rights of FCT natives and residents, while promoting collaboration with non-indigenous settlers.

Also speaking, Rev. Barr. Aboki Zhawa provided a constitutional backing for the demand, noting that the original inhabitants of the FCT have no other ancestral homeland and deserve equal constitutional rights enjoyed by citizens of other states.

He called for constitutional reforms, including the abolition of the indigene-settler dichotomy, citing Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution, and urged inclusive governance through zoning and citizenship-based belonging.

The meeting marked a renewed push in the long-standing agitation for FCT statehood, now framed around economic justice, constitutional rights, and inclusive citizenship.

By Patrick Idowu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has recovered ₦1.2 billion from Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited over an alleged breach of contract involving the construction of 22 smart schools for the Enugu State Government.

The Commission disclosed on Wednesday that the recovered funds have been returned to the Enugu State Government, reaffirming its commitment to combating corruption and recovering misappropriated public funds.

According to the EFCC, the recovery followed a petition received on February 11, 2025, alleging fraud and non-performance by Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited in the execution of the school project.

The petition alleged that ₦2.28 billion was paid to the company as advance payment for the project, but that the contractor failed to deliver, even after the contract completion deadline of January 2, 2025 elapsed. The EFCC identified Dr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, Group Managing Director of the firm, as jointly liable for the refund due to what it described as an irremediable breach of contract.

Acting on the petition, operatives of the Commission’s Enugu Zonal Directorate recovered ₦1,234,350,000 for the state government.

Speaking during the handover, the EFCC Zonal Director, CE Daniel Isei, representing the Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, reiterated the Commission’s resolve to ensure restitution in cases of economic and financial crimes.

He warned contractors handling public funds to adhere strictly to the Procurement Act, adding that the EFCC would pursue full recovery of unaccounted funds and prosecute offenders where criminality is established.