The embattled cross-dresser was stopped and removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos late Thursday night while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom.

He quickly alerted his followers on social media about the arrest, stating that he sustained injuries during the process.

Bobrisky wrote, “Nigerians, help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”

He was subsequently flown to the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja, where he was interrogated on his bribery allegations against the commission.

In a voice note shared by a controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.

Bobrisky perfected his bail late Friday night and was subsequently released.

Bobrisky perfected his bail late Friday night and was subsequently released.

During the hearing, both the EFCC and the NCoS officials denied the bribery allegations. The EFCC refuted claims that Bobrisky paid N15 million to have the money laundering charges against him dropped, while the NCoS insisted that Bobrisky served his term at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre and not in a private apartment as alleged.

Bobrisky was convicted on April 5, 2024, by the Federal High Court in Lagos and sentenced to six months in prison for abuse of the naira. On August 5, 2024, the self-acclaimed “Mummy of Lagos” regained his freedom amid allegations of receiving preferential treatment while in custody due to his fame as a media personality.

Last week, a social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, released an audio recording purportedly made by Bobrisky, in which he claimed that after his conviction and sentencing, an unnamed godfather, in collaboration with the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.

In the audio shared by VDM, Bobrisky was alleged to have claimed that he paid as much as N15m to EFCC officials to drop the money laundering charges against him.

Following these allegations, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered a probe and the immediate suspension of the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, Michael Anugwa, and the Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State, Sikiru Adekunle.

Additionally, last week, the House of Representatives resolved to invite Bobrisky, VDM, the EFCC, and the NCoS for questioning over the matter.

Appearing before the Reps Joint Committee on Monday, Anugwa stated that when Bobrisky was brought to the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, he refused to eat the prison rations, preferring to make personal arrangements for his feeding. He added that this practice is guaranteed under the nation’s laws.

On why Bobrisky was kept in a different cell away from other inmates, Anugwa explained, “During the admission of the inmate (Bobrisky), we discovered that he had two features. We did not know where to place him because, for instance, he had breasts. We had to take him to Room 2 in the B Ward. This is also in line with global best practices as approved by the United Nations.”

Regarding Bobrisky’s transfer to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Anugwa said, “Friends of Bobrisky bought plastic chairs and brought them to the centre. There was so much media hype that he had to be moved to Kirikiri for security.”

When asked if the donation of chairs could have influenced Bobrisky’s movement from Ikoyi to Kirikiri, Anugwa declined to comment, but added that it is a tradition for inmates to make donations to authorities while in custody.

He denied the allegation that Bobrisky was held outside the walls of a correctional facility, stating, “Bobrisky was admitted on April 13, with a valid warrant and a transfer order from Ikoyi Correctional Facility. The warrant was given to me the same day of his conviction. The biometric was taken the next day because he came around 10:30 PM. Okuneye spent 10 days at a medium correctional centre and was moved to maximum because he refused to eat the prison food and then applied for self-feeding, which was approved. Bobrisky nominated two people to bring his food to the facility, Abiola Okuneye and Moji Okuneye. During the admission, we discovered that Idris, though a man, had special features like breasts that would not allow us to put him in the general cell. We agreed to put him in a separate cell. While he was there, he had a total of 39 visitors.”

Echoing Anugwa’s position, the Assistant Controller General of NCoS in charge of the Kirikiri Maximum Security Centre, Ben-Rabbi Freeman, said he transported Bobrisky to Kirikiri in his official car.

“The transfer from Ikoyi to Kirikiri was purely for security purposes. The inmate (Bobrisky) was taken to the maximum facility in my official car,” Freeman said.

When asked if he was on suspension, the Deputy Controller elicited prolonged laughter at the investigative hearing when he said he learned about his fate via a press release. “The suspension was in the form of a press release,” he said.

When pressed further to clarify his position, Anugwa added, “It was a social media suspension, sir,” a remark that sent the audience into another bout of laughter.

However, the NCoS, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, labeled Anugwa’s actions as an attempt to mislead the public.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Correctional Service suspended not only the said officer in the video but three other officers following their alleged roles in various misconducts to allow for further investigation. The suspended officers include the officer in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections Sikiru Adekunle; the officer in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections Michael Anugwa; the officer in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT command, DCC Kevin Ikechukwu Iloafonsi; and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections Ogbule Samuel Obinna of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State,” Abubakar said.

VeryDarkMan apeaks on allegation

Meanwhile, VeryDarkMan, who initially declined to speak unless Bobrisky was produced, later agreed to comment after committee members and his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, urged him to have a change of mind.

Speaking on his allegations, VeryDarkMan told the investigating committee that he obtained his audio recording from someone who lent Bobrisky N4m.

Bobrisky claimed he had a godfather. I don’t know if that godfather is here, so I will present my evidence one at a time as I have more audio recordings,” he said.

Also speaking, Bobrisky’s lawyer, Avwerosuoghene Omuvwie, informed the House panel that his client could not honor the invitation due to ill health.

However, this did not sit well with the committee, which demanded medical proof to support the claim. A committee member, Patrick Umoh (PDP, Akwa Ibom), warned that the panel would not entertain frivolous excuses in the future, stating, “We hope that the next time we invite him, he will be well.”

EFCC defends allegation

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Michael Nzekwe, who represented his principal at the investigative hearing, explained why the commission dropped money laundering charges against Bobrisky. According to him, the charges were dropped because Bobrisky had pleaded guilty in his confessional statement.

He urged the House to “use its constitutional power to ensure that corruption and other vices are exposed, investigated, and prosecuted, and also to ensure that patriotic and dedicated officers are not blackmailed, demonized, and demoralized for faithfully serving and carrying out their lawful duties.”

“The commission has been consistent in its advocacy, calling on the public with credible information on alleged acts of corruption involving any of its officers to come forward with evidence. The public is urged to do so responsibly.

“Short of the ex-convict and other accusers openly naming the officers of the commission to whom they allegedly gave the bribe of N15m in order to influence the dropping of counts 5 and 6 of the charge bordering on money laundering, it is reasonable to infer that the ex-convict merely made up the story to convince the yet-to-be-identified person he was speaking with to obtain financial favors under false pretenses by dropping the name of the commission.

“We wish to draw the attention of the Honorable House to the fact that the onus of proving this grievous allegation against officials of the commission rests squarely on the accusers in this case: the ex-convict and VeryDarkMan. It is noteworthy that the commission extended an invitation to both the ex-convict and VeryDarkMan to assist in unraveling the identities of the officers of the commission to whom the alleged bribe of N15n was paid,” the EFCC stated.

The Chairman of the Committee, Ginger Onwusibe, however, indicated that at the next meeting, the person who recorded the audio should appear before the committee, while the meeting was adjourned sine die.

Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts bordering on abuse of naira, by allegedly spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.

Oyewale revealed, “Yes, the Cubana Chief Priest is in our custody, and he’ll be arraigned in court tomorrow (Wednesday).”

Meanwhile, in a suit filed on April 4, 2024, by the EFFC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) and seven other lawyers representing the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, it was alleged that Pascal Okechukwu, on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying same for two hours, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.

In the charge marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, obtained by The PUNCH, the commission also alleged that sometime in 2020, during a social event in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying the same for two hours.

In Count 3, it was alleged: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

The EFCC, on April 5, 2024, secured the conviction of popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on similar charges for which he was sentenced to six-month imprisonment on Friday, April 12, 2024.

Earlier on Sunday, the EFCC revealed that it was probing several celebrities over alleged abuse of Naira notes.

In a statement, its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said, “Many of them have made useful statements to the commission and many more have been invited by investigators working on the matter.

“The EFCC will not relent in its no-sacred-cow mode of operations and the public should be wary of running afoul of laws against the crime.”

In response to critics, the anti-graft agency further clarified that it would overlook old videos exposing such misdemeanour, while noting that it would, however, probe new cases.

The clarification was in response to the backlash against the commission over the arrest, detention, arraignment, prosecution, and subsequent conviction of Bobrisky over abuse and mutilation of Naira notes.

The EFCC stressed that while the commission had been inundated with videos depicting naira abuse, it would focus on investigating and prosecuting new cases of such infractions.

The EFCC noted that while the commission appreciated the resurgence of old videos of Naira abuse making the rounds, it was, however, sensitive to the fact that its Special Task Force against Naira Abuse and Dollarisation of the Economy commenced operations on February 7, 2024.

Oyewale wrote, “Increasingly, members of the public are drawing the attention of the commission to video recordings of abuse of the Naira by Nigerians from all walks of life.

“These gestures amply demonstrate the rising consciousness of the public to the sanctity of our national currency and the need for collaborative engagement to sustain the tempo.

“The commission will always investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of the Naira,” he said.

Expressing gratitude for the public’s engagement in combating naira abuse, Oyewale assured that the EFCC remains committed to probing and prosecuting individuals involved in such acts.

EFCC, on Thursday, filed six counts while counts bordering on money laundering and abuse of the naira on Bobrisky.

Bobrisky will be arraigned before the vacation judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro.

In the charge sheet filed by EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), alongside seven other lawyers, Bobrisky in the first count was alleged to have tampered with the sum of N400,000 by spraying the same while dancing at a social event at the IMAX Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos.

The commission said the offence was committed on March 24, 2024.

Bobrisky was also alleged to have between July and August 2023 at Aja Junction, Ikorodu tampered with another sum of N50,000 by spraying same at a social event while dancing.

The anti-graft agency  said in December 2023 at White Steve Event Hall, Ikeja, Bobrisky also sprayed and tampered with another sum of N20,000 while dancing.

He was further accused of spraying and tampering with another sum of N20,000 while dancing at another event in Oniru, Victoria Island.

The EFCC said that Bobrisky, while trading under the name and style of Bob Express between September  1, 2021 and April 4, 2024 in Lagos, failed to submit to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, a declaration of the activities of the said company, (Bob Express) within which period the total sum of N127. 7m was paid into the company account domiciled with Ecobank.

Bobrisky  was  also accused of failing to submit a declaration of the activities of the company within the same period when another N53m was paid into the company’s account.

Aacording to EFCC, the offences committed  contravened  Sections  6 (1)(a), and  19(1) (f) of the Money Laundering (Prevention And Prohibition) Act and were punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.

Bobrisky, who had been in the EFCC detention since Wednesday, night, failed to meet the administrative bail offered him on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the report of his bail and failure to meet the conditions, in a telephone interview with our correspondent Thursday evening.

Oyewale said, “He has been granted administrative bail but yet to meet bail conditions.”

Earlier, Oyewale had noted that, “Bobrisky is with us. He was arrested last night in Lagos, and he is at our Lagos command. We arrested him for alleged abuse of naira notes, spraying of nara notes, and currency mutilation, among others.

“We are very serious about restoring the dignity of the naira. Though our investigation is still ongoing, but he will definitely be charged to court soon.”

In a statement titled “EFCC Grills Bobrisky for Naira Abuse ” posted on its social media handle later, the EFCC wrote, “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have commenced investigation of Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, for allegedly spraying Naira notes.

“The EFCC had invited the 31-year old following a video report of spraying and flaunting wads of new Naira notes at the premiere of a movie, Ajakaju, produced by Eniola Ajao, a Nollywood actress and producer, at Film One Circle Mall, Lekki, Lagos on March 24, 2024.

“Investigation also revealed that he had also committed the alleged offence at some other event centres and parties at different times.

“Following the invitation by the commission, he arrived at the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC in the morning of Wednesday, April 4, 2024, for interrogation and volunteered his statements.

“He will soon be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.”

The court handed down the order following an ex parte motion filed by the EFCC demanding information about Nigerians trading on Binance.

The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/259/2024 and dated February 29 according to the anti-graft agency was brought pursuant to sections 6(b), (h), (I), 7(1), (a)(2), and 38 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Establishment Act, 2004 and Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended).

In the affidavit filed in support of the motion an operative of the EFCC, Hamma Bello, stated that the Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received intelligence that money laundering and terrorism financing were carried out on Binance.

He said, “On receipt of the Intelligence, the team began an investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

“The team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the naira losing its value against other currencies.

“The damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA of the activities of the Nigerians on their platform. “The information afforded to the team by Binance shows trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6bn.”

Bello stated that the requested data would help the commission to complete its investigation.

In the certified true copy of the ruling, which was delivered on February 29 but sighted by journalists on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the interim order.

He said, “The applicant’s application dated and filed 29th February 2024, is hereby granted as prayed.

“That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the operators of Binance to provide the commission with comprehensive data/information relating to all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.”

Binance is an online exchange where users can trade cryptocurrencies.

The  Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, at a press briefing after the 293rd meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee in Abuja on February, disclosed that more than $26bn was channeled through  Binance without traces in the last one year.

Financial Times had on February 28 reported that two executives of the company were arrested and detained after they flew into the country as a result of a ban on their website.

Students’ lodges were reportedly invaded at about 2am.

Some students have taken to social media, sharing videos and alleging that the men broke into rooms and arrested some students.

Videos circulating on social media show broken window frames from what is believed to be an attempt at forced entry.

One social media user named J Brandy wrote, “I thought they said EFCC should not raid at nights again. This hostel (Celebrity Lodge, FUTA ) is right behind mine. When will this endemic? EFCC (officials) moving like thieves at night!”

A man wearing the EFFC jacket was seen in one of the videos circulating online.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, had in November ordered that sting operations at night be stopped.

He gave this directive after the arrest of suspected internet fraudsters in Ile-Ife, Osun State, by operatives of the EFCC which sparked nationwide outrage.

When the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, was contacted on the matter on Wednesday, he asked our correspondent to call back in 20 minutes.

He hasn’t taken his calls again as of the time of this publication.

Sources in the anti-graft agency, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, said the commission had also uncovered over N500m from the scam associated with Umar-Farouk’s successor, Betta Edu, who was recently suspended by President Bola Tinubu.

N37,170,855,753.44 was transferred from government coffers and sent to 38 different bank accounts domiciled in five legacy commercial banks belonging to or connected with a contractor, James Okwete.

It was gathered on Friday that N30bn was recovered by the EFCC following the placement of a lien on the bank accounts of Umar-Farouq and Okwete, who are still being grilled by the anti-graft agency’s investigators.

The agency is also still grilling Edu in connection with an alleged N17bn fraud, while the suspended Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme, Halima Shehu, is also still being questioned over an alleged N44bn fraud.

An EFCC source revealed, “The commission has now recovered over N30bn from the laundered N37.1bn that was linked to former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq. We were able to recover the money after we placed liens on the bank accounts of the former minister and the contractor, Mr Okwete, who was linked to the fraud under probe. Both the minister and the contractor are still being grilled by our investigators daily.”

A senior EFCC investigator added, “We have uncovered another N17bn money laundering from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and for the alleged fraud linked to the suspended minister, Betta Edu, we have so far recovered over N500m. Edu is still answering questions about the fraud.

“The NSIPA coordinator, Halima Shehu, is still being grilled over the N44bn fraud linked to her at the NSIPA; our investigators aren’t leaving any stone unturned.”

When contacted for comments on the development, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale declined comments.

In another development, the EFCC said it recovered a total of N70,556,658,370.5 between October 2023 and January 19, 2024.

Details of the recovery were outlined in an EFCC document titled, ‘Operations and Recoveries’, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondent.

The document revealed that in the period under review, the EFCC recovered N60,969,047,634.25, $10,522,778.57, £150,002.10 and €4,119.90, making a total of N70,556,658,370.5.

It added that the EFCC received a total of 3,325 petitions, accepted 2,657 of the petitions, and secured the conviction of 747 persons for financial crimes ranging from money laundering to Internet fraud in the same period.

A breakdown of the data shows that the EFCC headquarters alone recovered N49,607,391,330.44, $3,900,200.75, £2,000, and £110.

The Maiduguri Zonal Command recovered N58,065,870 and $3,370; the Gombe Command recovered N127,323,028.50 and $1,500; while the Kano Command recovered N141,944,451 and $365.

The Makurdi Command recovered N53,228, 325; Enugu Command, N202,117,000; and $1,950; Uyo Command, N25,299,950 and $710; and Port Harcourt Command, N2,412,247,210.05 and $5,714,389.21.

The Sokoto Command recovered the sum of N100,696,118.72; Kaduna Command, N331,494,710.81, $912, £50, and €1,610; Ilorin Command, N80,280,580.86 and $880; Abuja Zonal Command, N825,928,463 and $10,000; and Ibadan Zonal Command, N135,519,810, $14517, £280, and €500.

The Lagos Zonal Command was said to have recovered N6,826,993,798.78, $868,284.61, £147,672.10, and €1,899.90, while the Benin Zonal Command recovered n49,515,987.09 and $5,700.

Within the same period, the agency said it secured the conviction of 747 persons for offences ranging from money laundering to cybercrimes.

However, the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, at a dialogue in Abuja on Wednesday, revealed that most of the 747 convictions involved persons who were prosecuted for cybercrime offences.

Meanwhile, the commission has said that it has deepened its probe into money laundering cases involving some high-profile public officials, especially former governors and ministers indicted for fraud.

The total amount involved in the money laundering cases rose to around N130.1bn as of January 31, 2024.

Details of the development were contained in an EFCC document titled, ‘100 Days in Office’, detailing ongoing probes, discoveries, and recoveries made by the commission under Olukoyede.

the ex-governor will be arraigned on nine count charges.

The development comes over a week after the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede vowed to review all abandoned high-profile cases, especially those involving former Governors and Ministers.

An impeccable source revealed, “We found that Obiano moved N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts. The money at various times was changed into dollars and returned to Obiano by cash.”

EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor

Some of the charges against Obiano include, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will lead eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor

Some of the charges against Obiano include, “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

When contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday, the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale confirmed the development while noting that Obiano will be arraigned on Wednesday.

“Yes, we’re arraigning Obiano tomorrow,” Oyewale noted.

The ex-governor was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.

The arrest took place at about 8.30 pm, hours after he left office as governor and, thus, lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution.

He had been on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time before he was eventually arrested over corruption allegations.

“Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” EFCC had noted at the time.

Sanij-D, who was arrested in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was also alleged to have defrauded an American, Diana Rosado Gonzalax, the sum of $2,000.00.

The suspect used social media platforms – Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp applications, with foreign phone numbers as means of defrauding his victims.

The EFCC, in a statement on Monday, said, “Based on credible intelligence on the activities of a syndicate of internet fraudsters, Chidubem allegedly impersonated one Christopher Rossi, a marine engineer that fixes boats and pipelines in Singapore. He was using Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp applications, with foreign phone numbers, as his fraudulent means of perpetrating and defrauding his victims.”

The Commission added that he would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Also, the EFCC arrested one Chike Nosa Agada, an unlicensed foreign exchange dealer, for an alleged N2bn fraud.

Agada, a 37-year-old native of Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, was declared wanted by the Commission on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, for obtaining money by false pretence and stealing by conversion to the tune of N2 billion.

“He was arrested at a residence in the Bourdillion, Ikoyi area of Lagos on Monday, October 16, 2023, during a sting operation by operatives of the Commission, following credible intelligence linking him to the alleged fraud. He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” EFCC said.

Upon arrest, a mobile device was recovered from him.

The notice of withdrawal of the suit submitted before Federal High Court Kano was contained in a letter signed by the Kano Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, dated 4th July 2023, and addressed to Sanusi Musa, SAN.

It read, ”We write to notify you that Kano State Government and the Attorney General of Kano State wish to debrief you of the earlier instructions, given to you to handle the case NO: FHC/ KN/71/2023 between Attorney General of Kano State and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“You and your team members are therefore instructed not to take any further steps on the matter, either by appearing in court or filing any processes in respect of the case” the Kano Attorney General concluded.

Recall that the Kano state government under the former governor through the Ministry of Justice had issued a fiat instrument to restrain EFCC from investigating the controversial dollar video.