metro
Court orders interim forfeiture of properties linked to former REA directors
Court orders interim forfeiture of properties linked to former REA directors
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of landed properties allegedly linked to two former Directors of the Finance and Accounts Department of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)—Suleiman Bulkwang and Abdullahi Sambo.
The order was issued on Thursday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, following a motion ex parte filed by counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Martha Babatunde.
The EFCC had sought the court’s intervention to temporarily seize the properties pending the conclusion of investigations into suspected financial misconduct by the former REA officials.
Justice Egwuatu granted the request and scheduled the matter for July 7, when the court will review the report of compliance with the forfeiture order.
Among the seven properties temporarily forfeited include a 1-hectare plot of land in Ungwan Rere, Lafia Government Area, Nasarawa State, linked to Sambo, and four units of two-bedroom flats in Kubwa, Abuja, linked to Suleiman Bulkwang.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that REA had been under investigation over allegations bordering on misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.4 billion.
Sambo was alleged to have benefited a total sum of N742 million from the funds, which he allegedly used to purchase the landed property.
The EFCC, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/825/2025 and filed by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, had sought two prayers.
It sought “an interim order of this honourable court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the properties described in the schedule below which are reasonably suspected to be derived from proceeds of unlawful activities,.”
The commission also sought an order directing the publication of the interim order in any national newspaper for person(s) in whose possession the funds sought yo be forfeited are found.
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Alternatively, it sought the order for anyone who is interested in the funds to appear before the court to show cause within 14 days why the final order for forfeiture of the funds mentioned in Relief 1 should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.
The EFCC, in the affidavit in support of the motion, averred that Sambo, in March 2023, allegedly pre-informed staff of the REA department that monies were going to be paid into their bank accounts, which they had to remit for a supposed “project supervision and monitoring.”
The commission added that seven REA staff acknowledged the directive from Sambo for the disbursement upon receipt of the funds from the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform in their extrajudicial statements.
Sambo was alleged to have directed the staff in his department to execute their roles on the GIFMIS platform, and approved and effected the fraudulent payments totalling N1,481,389,518.11.
It said that between March and June 2023, Sambo directed the staff of his department to effect payments totalling N1,481,389,518.11 to the various bank accounts of the seven staff of the accounts department of REA, including his own and that of Usman Kwakwa, his personal assistant.
“The payments were done without the approval of the Managing Director and also without the prerequisite preparation and audit of payment vouchers by the audit department as required,” the commission said.
The anti-graft agency said that upon receipt of funds, Kwakwa was instructed by Sambo to further disburse the total funds to his allies, Bureau De Change operators, Sambo himself, senior staff of the agency and other persons.
“Mr. Sambo personally benefited the total sum of N742,486,700.00 from REA through his staff, most of which was used to acquire identified properties through his ally Danmama Mohammed,” EFCC alleged.
It told the court that Bulkwang and Sambo had “indicated willingness” to forfeit all the property allegedly derived from unlawful activities.
It said that the development was a “non-conviction-based asset forfeiture proceeding.”
NAN report that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission (ICPC) is currently prosecuting some of the staff involved in the alleged fraud at different courts of the Federal High Court, including Sambo.
The EFCC had, in November 2024, arraigned Suleiman Bulkwang before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a sister court on a five-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering amounting to N223,412,909.
President Bola Tinubu had, in March 2024, approved the indefinite suspension of the Managing Director/CEO of the REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, alongside three executive directors of the agency, and appointed Abba Aliyu as replacement.
The REA is the implementing agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria responsible for the electrification of rural and unserved communities.
Court orders interim forfeiture of properties linked to former REA directors
(NAN)
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metro
How Thugs Killed Islamic Teacher in Bauchi Over Political Posters
How Thugs Killed Islamic Teacher in Bauchi Over Political Posters
Residents of Karofin Madaki quarters in Bauchi metropolis were thrown into shock and mourning following the killing of a renowned Islamiyyah teacher in the area, Rilwanu Dauda . Dauda, 42, was allegedly killed on Sunday by two brothers suspected to be political thugs after a quarrel over political posters . Daily Trust gathered that Dauda was stabbed in the stomach with a knife and died on the way to hospital .
Trouble started around 10am on that day after the deceased asked the thugs to remove political posters pasted on a billboard adjacent to his family house . The thugs refused and engaged him in a fight . According to the deceased’s elder brother, Hamza Dauda, the younger of the two thugs struck Malam with a stick while the elder struck him with a knife on the head. The cleric collapsed, and people around intervened to force the thugs to leave the scene . However, the younger thug crossed the road, entered his family house, and returned minutes later holding a knife. He met the late brother at the main gate and stabbed him in the stomach before fleeing. Some neighbours saw him sneak away, and it was only after he had gone that they realised the cleric was bleeding from the injury . He was rushed to the Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, but he was confirmed dead on arrival, having died on the way .
Hamza, who was at work when the incident happened, received a call from a friend informing him of his brother’s death. He described his late brother as someone who “never quarreled with others,” adding: “Unfortunately, look at how he was brutally murdered for no reason” . He called on the government and the police to arrest the killers and bring them to justice, saying: “I want justice in this matter. Everybody knows Malam was not troublesome and he was killed unjustly. His family wants justice. The killers should be arrested and made to pay for their actions” .
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When our reporter visited the deceased’s family house, sympathisers were still trooping in four days after his murder for condolences . Residents, who spoke to Daily Trust, described the late cleric as humble, kind, humane and a gentleman . One of them, Muhammad Aminu, lamented: “I wonder why people no longer value human life. People can kill over a slight provocation. This is unfortunate and something should be done to prevent its recurrence” . He suggested that the thugs may have had a grudge against the deceased, noting that after the fight had ended following intervention, one of the thugs returned to the scene and stabbed him. He described the late cleric as kind, religious, generous, and someone who related well with people, residing with his family along Ibrahim Bako Road .
One of the deceased’s neighbours, Bello Ibrahim, gave further details, stating that the thugs called a colleague who came to the scene and proceeded to paste the poster, resulting in a heated argument, after which one of the thugs brought out a dagger, stabbed the late Ridwan in the chest and fled . Residents rushed out, picked him up, and took him to hospital, but he died on the way .
Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed visited the deceased’s family to offer condolences . The governor pledged to take responsibility for the education of the deceased’s children from primary school through university . He said perpetrators of violent crimes anywhere in the state would have no hiding place, as the government intensifies efforts to safeguard lives and property . He assured the bereaved family that justice would be pursued without fear or favour, and anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law . The governor called on citizens to remain law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information to aid investigations .
Confirming the incident, the Bauchi State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Nafi’u Habib, said police had commenced investigation . “No stone will be left unturned in the course of our investigation until the killers of the cleric are arrested. We will not relent until we arrest them all,” he said . Asked whether any arrests had been made, the police spokesperson said there had been none but assured that the culprits would surely be arrested and brought to book . He urged the public to always report crimes in their communities, adding that the fight against crime is everybody’s responsibility .
Commenting on the rise in murder cases, a retired Police Commissioner, Muhammad Wakil, attributed the incidents to lack of good moral upbringing, drug abuse, illiteracy, and hatred, among other vices . He said: “It is unfortunate that the majority of our youths are into drug abuse and their level of illiteracy is also a contributing factor. Most of our youths are school dropouts and they also lack Islamic knowledge. They don’t have a sound background. This kind of generation can engage in any crime you can think of. With little money you can persuade them to commit any crime. An empty brain is the devil’s workshop and can engage in all sorts of crimes” . He called for a reflection on how forefathers lived and urged the culture of brotherhood to make these vices disappear .
How Thugs Killed Islamic Teacher in Bauchi Over Political Posters
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metro
Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno
Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno
Operation HADIN KAI troops have intercepted a suspected foreign courier allegedly transporting a large consignment of illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages and other prohibited substances believed to be destined for terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Islands of Borno State.
The successful operation was carried out by troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, during a coordinated search mission along the Maiduguri–Monguno highway on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Military authorities said the suspect was intercepted while travelling towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area, an area close to the Lake Chad Basin that has remained a strategic route used by insurgents and their logistics networks.
According to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the suspect was identified as Mrs. Rachael Samuel, a 48-year-old Chadian national from Kelo, Chari-Baguirmi Province, Republic of Chad.
Captain Goni disclosed that preliminary investigations indicate the prohibited items were being transported to locations within the Lake Chad Islands, an area that has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Items recovered during the operation included seven compressed bundles of suspected cannabis sativa weighing approximately 30 kilogrammes, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, popularly known as “Suck and Die,” 48 bottles of dry gin, 61 bottles of herbal alcoholic beverages, one mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, cash and other personal belongings.
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Military authorities said the recovered exhibits are valued at millions of naira, adding that the suspect is currently in military custody while the seized items have been secured pending handover to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and prosecution.
The military described the interception as another major success in ongoing efforts to dismantle the logistics and supply chains that sustain terrorist operations in Nigeria’s North-East.
According to the statement, intelligence gathered over the years has consistently shown that terrorist groups often rely on illicit drugs, alcohol and other intoxicants to stimulate fighters, suppress fear and sustain violent attacks against both civilians and security personnel.
By intercepting the consignment before it reached its intended destination, the troops disrupted what the military described as a critical support network used by terrorist elements operating within the Lake Chad Basin, a region spanning parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon that has witnessed years of insurgency.
The latest operation adds to a series of recent offensives by Operation HADIN KAI targeting terrorist logistics, weapons supplies and cross-border movements. Nigerian troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have intensified coordinated land and air operations across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, leading to the destruction of terrorist enclaves, recovery of weapons, rescue of kidnapped victims and the surrender of several insurgents and their family members.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that disrupting terrorist logistics remains one of the most effective strategies for weakening insurgent groups. Beyond military offensives, cutting off access to drugs, food supplies, fuel, weapons and financial support significantly reduces the operational capability of armed groups.
The Theatre Command commended the troops for their vigilance, professionalism and commitment to protecting national security. It reaffirmed that operations against terrorists and their collaborators would continue until lasting peace is restored across the North-East.
The military also urged residents to continue providing credible and timely intelligence to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains crucial in identifying suspicious movements, dismantling criminal networks and sustaining the gains recorded in the fight against terrorism.
Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno
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