Crime

EFCC to arraign Miyetti Allah leader in $2.53m laundering probe

Published

3 weeks ago

June 25, 2026

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering offences involving about $2.53m.

The anti-graft agency filed a 12-count charge against Bodejo on June 22, 2026, accusing him of receiving and possessing large sums of foreign currency allegedly linked to proceeds of unlawful activities, in violation of provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

A statement on Wednesday by the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Bodejo, who is expected to take his plea before the court in the coming days, was accused of accepting multiple cash payments from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the transactions through any financial institution as required by law.

According to the charge, one of the counts alleged that Bodejo, on January 11, 2022, in Abuja, knowingly accepted $100,000 in cash from Abubakar, an amount said to have exceeded the statutory threshold for cash transactions.

The charge read, “That you, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, on or about the 11th day of January 2022, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and willfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a payment of the sum of One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD $100,000) in physical currency from one Sa’idu Abubakar… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.”

In another count, the EFCC alleged that Bodejo received $200,000 in physical cash from the same source on January 21, 2022, also in contravention of money laundering laws.

The commission further alleged that on March 20, 2024, Bodejo accepted an additional $500,000 in cash from Abubakar, while another count accused him of receiving $980,000 in physical currency on February 7, 2024.

Count four stated, “That you, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, on or about the 7th day of February 2024, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly and willfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00) in physical currency from one Sa’idu Abubakar… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.”

The EFCC also accused Bodejo of possessing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.

According to count 10, Bodejo allegedly took possession of $980,000 in Abuja on or about February 7, 2024, under circumstances in which he knew or reasonably ought to have known that the money constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.

The commission said the alleged offences are punishable under various provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Bodejo is expected to be arraigned once a date is fixed by the court.

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Crime

NSCDC foils pipeline vandalism attempt, recovers equipment in Edo

Published

9 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Command, has foiled an attempted pipeline vandalism operation and recovered several items allegedly used by the suspects at Obazagbon Community in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State.

The State Commandant, Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ogbebor Efosa.

The commandant said, “On July 16, 2026, at about 1:00 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Anti-Vandal Unit, working in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Pipeline Security and Surveillance, were on a routine patrol along the NNPC pipeline corridor at Obazagbon when they encountered a group of suspected pipeline vandals excavating and vandalising the pipeline.

“Upon sighting the security operatives, the suspects opened fire in a desperate attempt to escape. The NSCDC personnel responded, forcing the criminals to abandon the operation and flee into the surrounding bush.

“Items recovered from the scene include five long gas cylinders, two motorcycles, two shovels and two digger heads.”

The commandant described the operation as another major breakthrough in the command’s sustained efforts to protect Nigeria’s critical national assets and infrastructure.

He warned criminal elements and their sponsors to stay away from government facilities, particularly oil and gas installations, stressing that the command remained resolute in its mandate to safeguard critical infrastructure.

“Our operatives are already on the trail of the fleeing suspects. They cannot evade justice forever. We are committed to apprehending everyone connected with this criminal act, including their sponsors and collaborators, and ensuring they face the full weight of the law,” he added.

The commandant appealed to residents of Edo State to continue supporting security agencies by providing credible and timely information that would help prevent acts of vandalism and other criminal activities.

He also assured members of the public that all information received would be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Ayinla reaffirmed the commitment of the NSCDC Edo State Command to working closely with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders to protect critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.

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Crime

PHOTOS: NDLEA declares drug kingpin, 3 associates wanted, blocks N9.8billion in accounts

Published

13 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an alleged drug kingpin, Nnamuka Kelvin Uchenna (a.k.a Odogwu) and three of his associates: Emmanuella Chinonso Iroka; Nnamuka Ifeanyi Kingsley and Ekechi Franklin Chijioke (a.k.a Ekene Okwunaga) wanted over their involvement in the establishment of a clandestine laboratory, production of methamphetamine and drug money laundering.

In a statement released this morning July 17, the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said the suspects were declared wanted based on the order of Justice Iniekenimi Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo state, following an application by NDLEA in suit number FHC/OW/CS/22/2026 filed before the court on 3rd July 2026.

Babafemi said this followed the discovery of a methamphetamine producing clandestine laboratory where 18.4 kilograms of the illicit substance and other items were recovered by NDLEA operatives at Isiozi in Umuaka, Njaba local government area of Imo state on 25th February 2026. Investigations later linked the wanted suspects to the meth lab, and have since then gone into hiding.

‘’Through forensic investigation of the meth syndicate by NDLEA operatives, bank accounts linked to the wanted suspects with a combined balance of Nine Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty Million, Eight Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Six Naira, Sixty Six Kobo (N9,840,873,566.66) only was frozen while the Agency has secured interim forfeiture orders covering multibillion naira assets owned by members of the syndicate including: a filling station, multi-storey residential buildings and four Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) marked RLU 148 AJ; KJA 563 FZ; BWR 249 DY and FST 208 HU.”Babafemi said

Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and operatives involved in the operation, describing it as a clear demonstration of the Agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and disrupt the financial architecture that sustains them.

“This latest operation reaffirms our unwavering commitment to tracking down drug kingpins and their collaborators, no matter how sophisticated their network or how long they attempt to evade justice. The discovery of this clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Njaba, and the subsequent freezing of nearly ten billion naira in illicit funds, alongside the forfeiture of a filling station, multi-storey buildings and four exotic SUVs, sends an unambiguous message that the illegal drug business is no longer a safe haven for criminals seeking to launder their ill-gotten wealth through legitimate enterprises.

I want to assure Nigerians that the Agency will not relent in going after the fleeing suspects and anyone else linked to this syndicate. We will continue to deploy financial and forensic intelligence to trace, freeze and forfeit assets acquired through drug trafficking, just as we will not hesitate to invoke the full weight of the law against fugitives who think they can hide from justice. NigerianSecurity Information

I appeal to members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the wanted suspects to volunteer such information to the nearest NDLEA office or through our confidential lines, as we remain committed to ridding our communities of the scourge of drug trafficking and its attendant social and economic harm”, Marwa stated.

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Crime

Kogi rescues abducted principal, NECO official, two students

Published

13 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Kogi State Government has announced the rescue of the four persons abducted during the recent attack on an unauthorised examination centre in Olowa, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, describing the rescue as the outcome of a coordinated security operation ordered by Governor Usman Ododo immediately after the incident.

According to the commissioner, Ododo directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (retd.), to coordinate a joint rescue operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and other security agencies.

“Shortly after the kidnapping incident, the governor directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (retd.), to coordinate the rescue operation.

“The State Security Adviser and the leadership of the 12 Brigade and the 21 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the police and local security operatives stormed the forest to ensure the victims were rescued.

“Just this evening, while inspecting the Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the Kogi State Government to strengthen the fight against criminality, the governor assured newsmen that every effort was being made to secure the release of the victims.

“A few hours later, the victims regained their freedom. The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee.

“Security operatives remain in the forest, and the operation is still ongoing.

“We are determined to ensure that none of the criminals escapes justice. Our resolve is clear: anyone who chooses the path of crime in Kogi State will face the full weight of the law.

“We can confirm that the school principal, the NECO official and the two students have all been rescued safely.

“They are hale and hearty and are currently with security agencies for debriefing and necessary medical checks,” he said.

Fanwo commended the gallantry and professionalism of personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Service, the Police, local vigilantes and other security agencies involved in the rescue operation, describing their swift response as further evidence of effective inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity.

The commissioner also expressed the Kogi State Government’s appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state’s security efforts.

“The President directed the heads of the security agencies to give Kogi every necessary support to rescue the victims. Today, that support has yielded the desired result. We are deeply grateful to Mr President for standing firmly with Kogi State in our determination to protect lives and property.”

He reiterated that the Ododo administration would not relent in its efforts to rid every part of the state of criminal elements, assuring residents that the government would continue to invest in intelligence gathering, security logistics and inter-agency collaboration to keep the state safe.

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