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Emefiele: Court slaps N500,000 cost on EFCC over delay
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday awarded a cost of N500,000 against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for delaying the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The trial judge, Hamza Muazu, imposed the cost after the prosecution failed to produce its witness at the resumed hearing.
Justice Muazu, while granting what he described as a final adjournment, warned the prosecution to ensure the attendance of its witnesses at the next sitting.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 20-count amended charge marked FCT/HC/CR/577/2023, bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretence.
He was, among others, accused of allegedly obtaining $6.23m under the guise of funding international election observers for the 2023 general election.
He is also accused of conferring corrupt advantages on two firms—April 1616 Nigeria Ltd and Architekon Nigeria Ltd.
At the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), told the court that the prosecution’s witness, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Elohor Okpoziakeo, was absent despite being duly notified.
Mohammed explained that the witness was attending a separate matter at the Gwagwalada Division of the FCT High Court involving a personal case against a commercial bank, where a garnishee order had been placed on his account.
He further informed the court that steps had been taken to secure the witness’s attendance, including writing to the Inspector General of Police through the Force Headquarters, following a directive issued on Monday.
The prosecutor subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable the witness to testify.
However, defence counsel, Matthew Burkaa (SAN), opposed the application, citing sections 396(3) and (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which limit parties in a criminal trial to five adjournments from arraignment to judgment.
Burkaa argued that the prosecution had already exceeded the statutory limit, having been granted about eight adjournments since the commencement of the trial.
He contended that the prosecution failed to properly manage its case, noting that the witness had been listed in the proof of evidence since January 2024 and that sufficient time had been available to secure his attendance.
The defence urged the court to refuse further adjournment.
In his ruling, Justice Muazu agreed that the provisions of the ACJA on adjournments were clear but held that the court retained discretionary powers to grant adjournments in the interest of justice.
He noted that the witness, being an investigator in the case, was a material witness who should not be shut out.
Relying on Section 396(6) of the ACJA, the judge awarded a cost of N500,000 against the prosecution for causing delay, despite the earlier grant of an accelerated hearing.
The matter was adjourned till April 27 and 28 for the continuation of the trial.
Iran slammed a US blockade around its ports on Monday as a “grave violation” of its sovereignty, as Washington and Tehran’s belligerent rhetoric rattled a fragile truce.
“The imposition of a maritime blockade constitutes a grave violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani wrote to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a letter seen by AFP.
The “unlawful” blockade also “constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental principles of the international law of the sea,” Iravani added.
US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Gulf Sunday, following the failure of peace talks over the weekend, warning that any Iranian attack boats that challenged the blockade would be destroyed.
The blockade came into force at 1400 GMT Monday, despite the United States and Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire days earlier, with mediator Pakistan and Gulf state Qatar continuing calls for it to be respected as diplomatic efforts continue.
Guterres on Monday called on “all parties” to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran and subsequently the United States blocked passage through the critical waterway.
The strait, through which a fifth of global oil and gas flows, has become a key flashpoint as the US and Iran attempt to gain leverage over each other during ceasefire negotiations.
Iravani said the “unlawful” blockade “poses a grave threat to international peace and security and obviously exacerbates the risk of escalation in an already highly volatile region.”
In a second letter, the UN envoy called on Middle Eastern countries hosting US military bases to “cease their internationally wrongful acts.”
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan should pay “compensation for all material and moral damage sustained,” he said.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has distanced himself from recent media reports linking him to certain political aspirations, saying the comments were made without his knowledge or authorisation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai said the remarks had been attributed to an unnamed individual described in media reports as his political associate, and that he had no hand in them.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai wishes to dissociate himself from comments regarding political aspirations which have been attributed to someone described by the media as a political associate,” the statement read.
“He did not authorise such comments.”
The disclaimer pointedly underscored El-Rufai’s reputation for speaking his mind directly, with the statement noting that he had been known throughout his public life for the frank articulation of his views.
“He is not about to outsource the expression of his political views and thoughts to others,” the statement added, warning that any future communication from the former governor would come directly from him or through his designated spokesperson.
El-Rufai did not identify the associate in question, nor did the statement specify the nature of the political aspirations that had been reported.
However, the swift and emphatic denial suggests the former governor was keen to prevent any impression that the comments reflected his current political thinking or intentions.
JAMB declares readiness for 2026 UTME, urges parents to protest admission violations
The disclaimer comes amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, a period in which the positions and affiliations of prominent political figures are under intense media and public scrutiny.
El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and two-term governor of Kaduna State, remains one of the most closely watched political figures in northern Nigeria.
His next political move — including which party platform he may adopt ahead of 2027 — has been a subject of widespread speculation.
The Yobe State Police Command said its operatives have arrested three suspected vandals involved in the destruction and theft of transformer components belonging to Yobe State Television at Garin Alkali Booster Station.
The Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Damaturu.
According to the Command, the arrest was made on April 14, 2026, by its operatives stationed in Garin Alkali while acting on credible intelligence.
“The arrested suspects are Muhammad Auwali, a.k.a. Aburare, 51, Inusa Lawan, 53, and Hassan Ibrahim, 27, all of Bursari and Gashua axis, Bade LGA. One accomplice identified as Ozu, is currently at large.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects criminally conspired and vandalised a transformer located at the YTV Booster Station, Garin Alkali, Bursari LGA.
“The suspects dismantled the transformer and sold part of the metal components”, it said.
The Command added that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted to selling some of the vandalised transformer parts to Hassan Ibrahim for the sum of N250,000, out of which N150,000 had already been paid.
“Investigation is in progress, after which the suspects will be charged in court for prosecution”, the police command said.
Commissioner of Police Usman Kamfani Jibrin, in the statement, warned scrap metal dealers against purchasing suspected stolen items and urged them to cooperate with security agencies in protecting critical public infrastructure.
He stressed that anyone found involved in such unlawful activities will be dealt with in accordance with extant laws.
Iran slams US blockade as ‘grave violation of sovereignty’
El-Rufai distances self from comments on political aspirations attributed to associate
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