News
Ibru’s Loot: Court Orders EFCC To Furnish Details
A Federal High Court last Friday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to furnish Mr Boniface Okezie, with details of property recovered from Mrs Cecilia Ibru within 72 hours.
Ibru who was former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank Plc, was convicted of mismanagement of depositors’ funds and reckless grant of credit facilities in October 2010.
Some money and property were also recovered from her.
Justice Mohammed Idris, delivering judgment in a suit filed by Okezie, president of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, (PSAN) in Lagos, directed the EFCC to provide the plaintiff with details of the recovered property.
Apart from the EFCC, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), was joined as defendant in the suit.
Our correspondent reports that Okezie had instituted the suit against the defendants in December 2012, under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011.
The plaintiff, through his counsel, Mr Chuks Nwachukwu, had sought among other reliefs, an order of court, compelling the EFCC to disclose the total cash and value of properties recovered from Ibru.
Okezie also sought to ascertain the location of the recovered assets and what portion had been returned to Oceanic Bank and its shareholders.
The plaintiff also required information on the source of funds and amount paid to the EFCC for the prosecution of former bank chiefs in Nigeria.
He requested for the list of criminal prosecution carried out by the EFCC through private lawyers and the reason for not utilising lawyers in the commission.
The plaintiff sought an order compelling the AGF to disclose the list of criminal prosecution carried out by the Ministry of Justice through private lawyers.
He also sought to know why the Ministry of Justice had resorted to the use of private lawyers for prosecution, instead of lawyers in the ministry.
Okezie sought to ascertain the cost of such prosecution by the private lawyers.
Justice Idris, in his judgment, held that the FOI Act required all public institutions to proactively disclose information about their structure and process.
He said that where such information was required, the institution had a duty to provide same within seven days.
The judge said that where a valid reason exists for non disclosure, it should be stated in writing to the applicant within seven days.
Idris held that by the provisions of Section 2 and Section 3 of the FOI Act, the plaintiff was conferred with the requisite ‘locus standi’ to institute the suit.
According to the judge, the plaintiff did not need to demonstrate any specific interest in the information before it is provided for him.
“By the provision of the FOI Act, where an information is sought, public institutions are required to deliver same within seven days.
“Where, however, it declines, it must elicit valid grounds for its refusal in writing to the applicant within seven days,” he said.
According to the judge, it appears that the AGF has not declined to provide the required information, but sought for adequate time within which to collate and serve it on the applicant.
He said that the EFCC, however, had bluntly refused to comply.
“I am of the view that on receipt of the plaintiff’s request, the EFCC had a duty to respond, but in this case they simply kept mute.
“Let me say that none of the defendants has such powers under the law.
“The EFCC had failed to file any counter affidavit stating the reasons for its failure to avail the plaintiff with the required information.
“In my view, the defendant did not show that by its non disclosure, it was protecting the certainty, deliberative or policy making process within the agency.
“The EFCC has not shown that it is protecting the disclosure of information that will constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of the privacy of individuals in the agency, or that would contaminate its court proceedings,” he said.
The judge said he was of the view that none of the information required by the plaintiff threatens the national security.
“Obedience to the rule of law, especially by those who take oath of office in public institutions, is a ‘desideratum’ to good governance.
“Judgment is hereby given in favour of the plaintiff, and the defendants are directed to provide the said information within 72 hours of this judgment.
“The law is the last resort of human wisdom and the court will never sanction what is injurious to the public,” Idris said.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 1.63 million pills of tramadol concealed in two long trailers heading for Kano as it intensified efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria corridor.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has denied claims that it has commenced registration for a purported ?50,000 National Support Allowance.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed its preparedness for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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