Following the testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned further hearing to Wednesday October 8, 2025, for continuation of trial.
$4.5bn fraud case: Emefiele’s phone forensic analysis halted amid EFCC – defence dispute
The forensic examination of a mobile phone central to the $4.5 billion alleged fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele, has stalled following a sharp disagreement between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the defence team over how to carry out the court-ordered test.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday, both parties traded accusations over who was responsible for the failure of the forensic process, which had been scheduled for September 24 and 25, 2025.
Emefiele, alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a 19-count charge of alleged fraud, corruption, and abuse of office.
The EFCC had tendered an iPhone 12 containing WhatsApp messages as part of its evidence against the former apex bank chief.
The court had earlier ordered that the device, marked as “iPhone 2”, be subjected to a scientific forensic analysis by experts representing both sides to determine the authenticity of the WhatsApp conversations in dispute.
However, Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, told the court that the exercise could not proceed because the EFCC repeatedly obstructed efforts to access the device.
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According to him, despite the presence of representatives from the prosecution, the defence, and the court’s Registrar, the commission refused to produce the phone for examination.
Ojo said: “The first obstacle was that the EFCC insisted the device could not be fully exposed to the team.Then, on the second day, even when the Registrar clarified that your lordship’s order covered both the phone and its WhatsApp contents, the EFCC representatives refused to produce it when the Apple expert demanded it. We were told a categorical ‘No.’”
He urged the court to issue a fresh directive compelling the EFCC to allow unrestricted access to the phone and its data, arguing that the commission’s refusal amounted to a disobedience of the court’s order.
But EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, dismissed the defence’s claims as misleading.
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Reps Uncover 29 Forged Documents in Fake Agency Probe, Order IGP to Produce Suspect Adeyemi
The House of Representatives has uncovered a massive web of alleged forgery involving 29 government documents as it investigates the phantom Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC). The House Committee investigating the PFIPC has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to produce the self-acclaimed Director-General of the organisation, Adeyemi Adeniyi, before lawmakers by 12 noon on Wednesday. The directive was issued on Monday during a resumed investigative hearing at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, with Assistant Commissioner of Police Bashir Abdullahi, representing the IGP, instructed to ensure Adeniyi’s appearance.
Providing an update on the criminal aspect of the case, ACP Abdullahi informed lawmakers that the Nigeria Police Force had already filed an eight-count charge against Adeniyi before the Federal High Court, confirming that the suspect had been arrested and arraigned following petitions from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President. He stated that the case is ongoing but cautioned against demands for disclosures that could prejudice the ongoing criminal investigation and court proceedings, urging the committee to avoid public statements that might influence judicial outcomes.
In a startling revelation during the hearing, Committee Chairman Yusuf Gagdi disclosed that investigators had identified about 29 allegedly forged documents linked to the operations of the non-existent agency, which include purported approvals from the State House, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Finance, and several other government institutions. Gagdi noted that representatives from many of the affected agencies had already appeared before the committee and formally disowned the documents attributed to their offices, adding that the committee is also dealing with what is said to be a forged Act of the National Assembly in an attempt to establish a fake agency.
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One of the most dramatic moments of the hearing came when the committee examined signatures on documents allegedly issued from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, and when lawmakers asked whether the signatures matched authentic official correspondence already verified by investigators, the police witness responded unequivocally that they are not the same. The committee said the discrepancy reinforced concerns that official State House documents may have been forged, lending credence to suspicions that a coordinated scheme was executed to give the phantom council an air of legitimacy.
The committee is investigating how the PFIPC—which the Federal Government insists has no legal backing—allegedly secured office accommodation in Phase III of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja and received a budgetary allocation of ₦1.32 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act. The police investigation was triggered by a petition dated October 17, 2025, from the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, alleging that Adeniyi fraudulently presented himself as the Director-General of both the Presidential Economic Advisory Council and the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council. According to police, the petition alleged Adeniyi used the purported office to secure accommodation within the Federal Secretariat, seek approval to recruit about 300 personnel, attempt to secure a $1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget, and plan to organise a World Investment Summit under the platform of the purported council.
Explaining the urgency behind the summons, Gagdi said Adeniyi’s appearance had become imperative given the gravity of the allegations and the integrity of institutions involved, stressing that people’s names, people’s integrity, institutional names, and institutional integrity are all at stake. He maintained that it is not an option for Adeniyi to stay away, as the committee needs him to confirm certain documents in a way that will not undermine the investigation and will enable the timely submission of its report. The committee subsequently directed its clerk to formally communicate its resolution to the Inspector-General of Police. Gagdi assured that the House investigation would continue independently, and its final report could recommend further action by relevant security agencies.
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Prophetess who made husband swear fidelity oath celebrates mother-in-law’s death
Canada-based Nigerian woman and self-acclaimed prophetess, Ezinne Maryjane Nwanorue, has come under intense criticism after publicly celebrating the death of her mother-in-law, Comfort Chika Nwanorue, in a series of controversial posts on Facebook.
The development has reignited public attention on the highly publicised family dispute involving Ezinne and her husband, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue, whose viral public fidelity oath before relocating to Canada dominated social media discussions in recent days.
In a Facebook post shared on Monday, Ezinne uploaded the funeral poster of her late mother-in-law alongside remarks that many social media users described as shocking and offensive.
Referring to the deceased as a “wicked witch,” Ezinne alleged that her mother-in-law and other family members had spent years working against her destiny. She claimed they had attempted to frustrate her progress in life but declared that God had delivered her and brought her into what she described as her “season of manifestation.”
She further warned individuals she identified as witches, wizards and evil people to repent or face divine judgment, insisting she was speaking in her capacity as “a prophetess of God Almighty.”
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The posts quickly spread across Facebook and other social media platforms, attracting thousands of reactions and generating heated debate.
While a small number of users expressed sympathy for Ezinne and suggested she may have endured difficult experiences with her husband’s family, many others condemned her decision to celebrate the death of a family member. Critics argued that regardless of any personal grievances, publicly rejoicing over someone’s death was inappropriate and inconsistent with the values of compassion and forgiveness.
The latest controversy follows an earlier incident that brought the family into the national spotlight.
Ezinne had previously disclosed that before sponsoring her husband, Franklin Nwanorue, to relocate to Canada, she instructed him to publicly swear an oath that he would never be unfaithful to her. According to her, the directive was based on divine instruction.
In the now-viral video, Franklin declared that if he cheated on his wife after arriving in Canada, he should die. He also pledged to remain faithful and continue being a responsible husband and father to their children.
However, Ezinne later alleged that despite taking the public oath, her husband became involved with another woman after relocating to Canada.
In another Facebook post, she accused Franklin of having an affair, claiming he “still slept with one of his side chicks” after making the declaration. The allegation fueled widespread conversations on social media about trust in marriage, public religious vows and the dangers of turning private family disputes into online spectacles.
Her latest comments following her mother-in-law’s death have further intensified public scrutiny of the family’s ongoing conflict.
As of the time of filing this report, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue has not publicly responded to his wife’s latest claims or her comments regarding his mother’s death. Other members of the Nwanorue family have also remained silent on the matter.
The incident continues to generate mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians calling for restraint and urging those involved to resolve their differences privately rather than through social media.
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MURIC Tells Adeleke to ‘Pack Your Dancing Kits’ Ahead of Osun 2026 Election
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued a strong statement advising Governor Ademola Adeleke to start packing his belongings from the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, ahead of the upcoming Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026. In a statement released on Monday, July 27, 2026, by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the human rights group insisted that Adeleke would be punished at the polls for what it described as deceiving the Muslims of Osun State.
The group declared that Adeleke’s “unrenewable rent has expired” and that “the estate agents are waiting at the gates to usher in the new landlord,” referring to another Nurudeen as the incoming governor. MURIC stated that while it could overlook certain alleged political infractions such as the damaged flyover, alleged “edenisation” of governance, mishandling of local government affairs, and examination malpractice, the governor’s religious conduct was unforgivable.
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The core of MURIC’s grievance centres on what it describes as Adeleke’s deception of Muslims regarding his religious identity. According to the statement, though the governor is a Christian, he pretended to be a Muslim because he is aware that Osun State’s population is predominantly Muslim. MURIC contrasted Adeleke’s approach with that of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a Christian who did not pretend to be a Muslim and was transparent about his faith. The group also drew a comparison with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who “came out boldly with his Muslim-Muslim ticket at the federal level,” a stance MURIC described as “dignifying,” which it said was missing in Adeleke’s “Christian-Christian government.”
The statement further accused Adeleke of playing on the intelligence of Osun Muslims. “Though a Christian, he pretended to be a Muslim because he is aware that the population of the state is predominantly Muslim. That is very close to obtaining something by false means,” the statement read. MURIC concluded by telling the governor: “Pack your dancing kits from Oke-Fia because another Nurudeen, the Nurudeen with capital ‘N’, will soon move in. He is the new landlord.”
This latest salvo is part of a long-running feud between MURIC and Governor Adeleke. The group has previously accused the governor of marginalising Muslims in political appointments, alleging that Christians received 17 commissioners while Muslims received only seven. MURIC also alleged financial impropriety, including a payroll discrepancy and mismanagement of security votes. The Osun State Government has previously dismissed these allegations, with Commissioner for Information Kolapo Alimi accusing MURIC of spreading misinformation and challenging its director to declare any partisan interest in the opposition All Progressives Congress.
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