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EFCC Hands over 14 Forfeited Properties to Enugu State

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 handed over 14 properties initially forfeited to the Federal government and now ceded to the government and people of Enugu State.

The transfer of the properties to Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Mba was performed by the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede at the corporate headquarters of the Commission.

Speaking before the brief handover ceremony, Olukoyede who disclosed that the road to the forfeiture dated back to 2007, stated that event spoke of the mutually beneficial relationship existing between the federal government and states.

“What we are witnessing today testifies to a symbiotic relationship that should exist between the federal government and the state governments. The essence of our meeting here today is for us to handover properties that were forfeited to the federal government, which of course belong to Enugu State people back to the people. It shows that governance can work in Nigeria. Our people deserve the benefits of good governance and that is what is being evidenced here today.

Speaking further, he said, “If you look at the history of this particular matter, it takes us back to 2007 when we started the prosecution. So we are looking at about 17 years since the matter has been on.

Eventually some of the properties were forfeited and since then, the EFCC has been managing those properties even though the titles of quite a number of the properties have been revoked by the Enugu State government. What we are witnessing here today is the official handing over of the properties to the people of Enugu State through His Excellency, Dr Peter Mba,” Olukoyede said.

Earlier in his remarks, Governor Ubah expressed gratitude for the handover and thanked the EFCC chair and the Commission for ensuring that the people of his state reclaimed their common patrimony.

“I would like to express my profound gratitude for the event we are witnessing today. The importance and significance of this event can never be lost on us and we do not also take it for granted. So I want to take this opportunity to convey my profound gratitude and deep appreciation to the chairman and members of the EFCC team that have brought us to where we are today.

This is a journey that began several years ago and we are marking a formal closure to that journey here today. A journey that saw the successful prosecution of certain companies in possession of assets belonging to the people of Enugu State”.

The governor who noted that the properties were forfeited not to his state but to the federal government expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for making it possible for them to be returned to the government and people of Enugu State.

“Those assets were forfeited to the federal government. And this brings me to another gratitude that I want to convey here today. I want to acknowledge and recognize the important role played by the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Without the proactiveness and speed at which he acted on our request to cede these assets back to the people and government of Enugu State, we wouldn’t have been here today. So I want to thank him most sincerely for granting our request for these assets that were forfeited to the federal government to be ceded back to Enugu State.

He lauded Olukoyede’s initiatives at making the EFCC a strong institution and cautioned against attempts by some individuals to distract the Commission. “I will not end this remark without acknowledging the work the EFCC chairman is doing in strengthening this very important institution. It is important that we do not weaken our institutions. Whatever we do in governance is transient. So I want to commend him for the efforts he is making in ensuring that this very important institution, the EFCC is strengthened. Thank you very much for all the great work you and your team are doing and particularly for the effort that you have put in to make today a reality,” the governor stated.

The properties comprise houses, transmission equipment for radio and television stations, a building for medical operations, among others.

The forfeited properties were recovered from a former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani.

Justice Mohammed Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos on July 8, 2015 convicted four companies associated with Nnamani and ordered that their properties be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The four companies are Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital. The companies had on May 19, 2015 pleaded guilty to a 10-count amended charge brought against them by the EFCC.

Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories

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Troops hit Boko Haram hideouts in Borno, kill fighters

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Troops under the 7 Division, Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai have dealt another blow to Boko Haram, storming their strongholds in Tangalanga and Bula Marwa, both in Borno State.

According to details obtained by Zagazola Makama from military sources familiar with the mission, the operation was executed on Sunday, July 7, following “credible intelligence reports indicating the presence and activities of terrorist elements in the general area.”

The troops, acting swiftly on the information, first moved into Tangalanga where they came under attack but quickly responded, killing two insurgents during the engagement. The team didn’t stop there.

“After receiving intelligence on the massing up of terrorists within the location,” the sources said, “the team proceeded towards Bula Marwa.”

As soldiers approached the second target, Bula Marwa, the insurgents reportedly fled into the surrounding terrain in a bid to escape. However, their retreat was not entirely successful.

“One fleeing insurgent was neutralized during pursuit, while several special structures within the camp were destroyed,” a source confirmed.

Despite the tense situation and armed confrontation, the troops are said to have completed the mission without recording any casualties on their side — a significant morale boost for the ongoing counterinsurgency efforts in the region.

Recovered from the operation were key items, including aix AK-47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a Boko Haram flag.

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BREAKING NEWS: Imo Govt Demolishes Notorious Criminal Hideout at Nekede No. 1 by Imo ADP

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By Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, July 07, 2025.

In a bold and decisive move, the Imo State Government has continued its onslaught against criminality by demolishing a notorious hideout located at Nekede Number One, near the Imo ADP. The structure, long suspected to be a base for armed robbery and heinous organ harvesting operations, was brought down earlier today under the supervision of government security operatives and task force agents.

According to sources within the Governor’s Monitoring and Compliance Unit, the location had been under surveillance following multiple intelligence reports linking it to violent crimes, including coordinated robberies, drug trafficking, and suspected ritual killings involving human organs.

“This location was not just a criminal den; it was a grave threat to public safety and human dignity,” said an official involved in the operation. “Our government will not allow any part of the state to become a breeding ground for evil.”

Residents in the area had reportedly lived in fear for months, as the structure harbored criminals and served as a meeting point for underworld elements. Eyewitnesses described scenes of relief as the bulldozers rolled in and leveled the compound.

“I can finally sleep with my two eyes closed,” said one local resident who asked not to be named. “We’ve known for long that something very dark was happening there. We thank the state government for taking this action.”

Preliminary investigations are ongoing, and several suspects were said to have been apprehended during the raid. Authorities have assured the public that a full-scale investigation will follow, and all those involved in the criminal enterprise will be brought to justice.

This demolition is part of the Imo State Government’s renewed campaign to cleanse the state of criminal syndicates and restore law and order across all localities. In recent weeks, similar crackdowns have been executed in other parts of the state, drawing commendation from security stakeholders and the general public.

The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to making Imo safe for residents, investors, and visitors alike.

More updates to follow.

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Court Jails Nine Chinese for Cyber-terrorism, Internet Fraud

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Justice D. E.Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, July 7, 2025, convicted and sentenced nine Chinese to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicts are Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, Tan Ming.

They are among the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted by EFCC operatives.

They were subsequently arraigned on a separate one -count charge of cyber- terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

 

The charge reads: “ That you, Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, Tan Ming, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”

They initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against them.

However, at Monday’s sitting, they changed their “not guilty plea” to “guilty.”

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, R.A. Abdulrasheed, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.

Consequently, Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to one year imprisonment starting from the date of arrest on December 10, 2025, with a fine in the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00).

The judge also directed the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.

The judge further ordered that the mobile phones, computers, laptop computers and routers seized from them at the time of arrest be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

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