El-Rufai Remains in Custody as Court Adjourns Bail Hearing - Newstrends
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El-Rufai Remains in Custody as Court Adjourns Bail Hearing

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Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai
Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai Remains in Custody as Court Adjourns Bail Hearing

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the bail application of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to March 31, 2026.

El-Rufai was arraigned before the court on Tuesday on charges bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The former governor was brought to court by security operatives at about 9:00 a.m. in a Hilux vehicle. He remained inside the vehicle for approximately 25 minutes before being escorted into the courtroom under tight security. Armed operatives were also deployed in and around the court premises, restricting movement and maintaining order ahead of the high-profile hearing.

During proceedings, his counsel, Ukpon Akpan, urged the court to grant bail, arguing that El-Rufai would not abscond and needed his freedom to adequately prepare his defence. The defence also emphasized his constitutional rights and willingness to comply with any bail conditions.

However, the prosecution opposed the application, contending that granting bail at this stage could interfere with ongoing investigations by the anti-corruption agency.

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After listening to arguments from both sides, the presiding judge adjourned the matter to March 31 for ruling on the bail application, ordering that El-Rufai remain in custody pending the decision.

The former governor has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19, shortly after he was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had earlier detained him over related allegations.

Since his arrest, the case has generated significant public attention, with political associates, legal analysts, and civil society groups calling either for his release or for a swift and transparent trial.

Sources within the investigation disclosed that while in ICPC custody, El-Rufai declined to answer questions from investigators, invoking his constitutional right to remain silent.

Earlier, on March 5, a magistrate court had extended his initial remand order by an additional 14 days to allow investigators more time to conclude preliminary findings.

In a related development, El-Rufai has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the legality of the search conducted on his residence as well as the remand order issued following his arrest. The suit is expected to test the boundaries of investigative powers exercised by anti-corruption agencies.

Legal observers say the outcome of both the bail ruling and the fundamental rights suit could have far-reaching implications for due process, anti-corruption enforcement, and political accountability in Nigeria.

El-Rufai Remains in Custody as Court Adjourns Bail Hearing

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EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of Former Acting AGF’s Assets to FG

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Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku
Former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Nnabuoku

EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of Former Acting AGF’s Assets to FG

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of multibillion-naira assets, bank funds, luxury property and stock investments belonging to former acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Nnabuoku, to the Federal Government after his conviction for money laundering.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Wednesday while granting an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which sought the confiscation of properties and investments identified as proceeds of unlawful activities.

The judge held that forfeiture naturally follows conviction in financial crime cases, especially where the assets were acquired with proceeds traced to illegal activities.

According to Justice Omotosho, allowing the convict to retain the assets after conviction would amount to permitting him to continue benefiting from crime.

“The convict here will not be allowed to enjoy those properties which are being sought to be forfeited. He has been convicted and those properties have been established to emanate from proceeds of illegal activities,” the judge ruled.

The court dismissed objections raised by counsel to the former acting AGF, who argued that the forfeiture proceedings should not continue because an appeal had already been filed against the conviction.

Justice Omotosho, however, clarified that the filing of a notice of appeal does not stop the court from making forfeiture orders, describing confiscation of criminal proceeds as part of the sentencing process.

“Forfeiture in this instance is seen as part of the judgment. In fact, it is similar to the sentencing handed down by the court,” he stated.

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The court subsequently ordered the confiscation and permanent forfeiture of all assets listed in the EFCC application filed under suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/240/2024.

Among the assets forfeited are millions of naira found in multiple bank accounts allegedly linked to companies associated with Nnabuoku.

The funds include ₦12.5 million in Temeeo Synergy Concept Limited’s Zenith Bank account, ₦4.1 million in Turge Global Investment Limited’s account, ₦682,904 in Laptev Bridge Limited’s account and ₦51.2 million in Arafura Transnational Afro Limited’s account.

The court also approved the forfeiture of ₦220 million previously refunded by Nnabuoku into an EFCC recovery account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Also forfeited is a five-bedroom standalone duplex located at No. 20 City Gate Estate, Kukwaba, Abuja, valued at ₦64 million, alongside an additional ₦3 million paid as infrastructural development levy.

According to the EFCC, the house keys were voluntarily handed over by the convict as part of restitution during investigations.

In addition to the cash and property forfeiture, the court also ordered the seizure of Nnabuoku’s extensive stock investments across several major Nigerian companies.

The forfeited shares include 10 million units in Access Holdings Plc, 7.5 million shares in First HoldCo Plc, 4.5 million shares in Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc and over 10 million shares in United Bank for Africa Plc.

Other investments affected by the court order include shares in Zenith Bank Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc and several other firms.

According to the EFCC, the total market value of the forfeited investments stood at approximately ₦1.94 billion as of March 29, 2026.

The forfeiture order comes weeks after Justice Omotosho convicted Nnabuoku on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering involving about ₦868 million.

The former acting Accountant-General was sentenced to a cumulative 72-year prison term without an option of fine after the court found him guilty on all counts. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he is expected to serve eight years imprisonment.

The EFCC had accused the former government official of diverting public funds while serving as Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2021.

Investigators alleged that the diverted funds were laundered through proxy companies, investments and other financial channels before being traced by the anti-graft agency.

Nnabuoku briefly served as acting Accountant-General of the Federation in 2022 following the suspension of former AGF Ahmed Idris over separate corruption allegations before he was later removed from office.

The latest ruling is being regarded as one of the most significant recent asset recovery cases involving a former senior public finance official in Nigeria.

EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of Former Acting AGF’s Assets to FG

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EFCC Arrests Energy Commission DG Over Alleged N500bn Money Laundering Probe

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EFCC Arrests Energy Commission DG Over Alleged N500bn Money Laundering Probe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over an alleged N500 billion money laundering investigation.

Abdullahi was reportedly taken into custody in Abuja on Wednesday and is currently being detained by the anti-graft agency as investigations continue.

According to reports by TheCable, the EFCC is probing alleged financial transactions linked to the massive fraud case, although details of the allegations have not yet been officially disclosed by the commission.

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President Bola Tinubu appointed Abdullahi as the third Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria on October 24, 2023.

Prior to his appointment, he served as Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.

Abdullahi is a chartered engineer and a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The EFCC has yet to issue an official statement on the arrest as of the time of filing this report.

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“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

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“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

Nigerian cryptocurrency entrepreneur and social media personality, Linus Williams, has sparked fresh public debate after revealing details of his time inside the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, describing the facility as relatively comfortable and structured, with what he called “VIP sections” for high-profile inmates.

Blord made the comments during a recent online interview where he discussed his detention experience and reacted to comparisons involving controversial activist Martins Vincent Otse.

Blord claimed that Kuje Correctional Centre has designated VIP sections reserved for influential or high-profile inmates, insisting that conditions in those areas differ from standard cells. According to him, the facility is more organised than commonly assumed, and certain inmates benefit from improved arrangements depending on their status.

He further compared the environment to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, saying parts of the facility felt structured and manageable. He maintained that his placement in what he described as a VIP section shaped his overall experience of detention.

Blord also described his time in custody as unexpectedly comfortable, stating that he had access to basic conveniences and regular meals. He went further to claim that he even had access to personal services, which made his stay feel more relaxed than punitive.

He added that inmates inside the facility engaged in recreational activities such as football and organised games, noting that he interacted freely with other detainees during his stay.

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The businessman suggested that treatment in correctional centres may vary depending on the influence or profile of inmates, drawing comparisons with VeryDarkMan, though he did not provide specific details about the activist’s own detention experience.

The comments have reignited debate over alleged inequality within Nigeria’s correctional system, particularly claims of VIP treatment in Nigerian prisons and whether influential detainees receive preferential conditions compared to ordinary inmates.

The Kuje Correctional Centre, operated by the Nigerian Correctional Service, remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent detention facilities, housing a mix of politicians, fraud suspects, and other high-profile inmates.

The facility gained global attention in 2022 after armed attackers stormed the prison and freed several inmates, raising concerns about security and operational integrity within Nigeria’s correctional system.

Since that incident, authorities have repeatedly stated that security measures have been strengthened across federal correctional facilities.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Correctional Service nor VeryDarkMan had issued any official response to Blord’s remarks.

“I Had a Chef in Prison” — Blord Reveals Experience at Kuje Facility

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