Metro
Celine, Afiba families fear foul play in Aba hook-up saga
In a chilling tale of mystery and tragedy, two ladies have gone missing after visiting a man they met on Facebook. The missing ladies, Celine Ndudim from Nigeria and Afiba Tandoh from Ghana embarked on their ill-fated journey on April 27, travelling from Port Harcourt to Aba, Abia State’s commercial hub.
Their destination was the residence of one Andrew Ochekwo (Amechi), a man based in the Ogbor Hill area of Aba.
Ochekwo, now late, had been seen in a viral video clip on social media inviting the two women to his home for a “hook-up,” a slang term in Nigeria often associated with transactional sex.
Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, brought this alarming situation to light through a series of Facebook posts.
He disclosed that Ochekwo had allegedly held Ndudim and Tandoh hostage after their arrival.
In May, Gwamnishu announced that the ladies had gone missing, and Ochekwo was subsequently arrested by the Aba Police Divisional Headquarters for being in possession of ‘women’s belongings’.
Despite the evidence suggesting the women had visited him, Ochekwo reportedly refused to confess to any wrongdoing.
Gwamnishu shared that numerous other women came forward with testimonies, claiming that Ochekwo had previously kidnapped and attempted to murder them before they managed to escape.
The severity of the case led to its transfer from Aba to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Abia State Police Command in Umuahia, and eventually to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
This move came after an unidentified individual petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, alleging that Ochekwo was living in relative comfort while in custody.
The situation took a grim turn when Gwamnishu revealed in another post that Ochekwo had been killed while being transported by policemen from Abia to Abuja.
“Before I left Delta with the victims’ families to Abuja, I got a call that Andrew Ochekwo, the man who kidnapped the two friends, was killed.
“They (police) said while they were taking him (the suspect) to Abuja, the man tried to escape and he was shot dead,” Gwamnishu explained in a video uploaded on Facebook.
Further confirming the death, Gwamnishu uploaded another video showing a body, identified by staff members of his human rights group, Behind Bars Initiative, as Ochekwo’s.
The group had travelled to Otukpo, Benue State, where the body had been deposited in a morgue, to verify the death.
Adding to the horror, Gwamnishu and the Intelligence Response Team of the police from the Force Intelligence Bureau discovered a decomposed body in a bush near Ochekwo’s Aba residence.
“Yesterday (Monday), at about 10:00 p.m., we arrived in Aba and the company of police officers from FIB-IRT Abuja, we went out for a search and discovered a decomposed body wrapped and dumped somewhere around ZeeRock Area Ogbor-Hill, Aba, Abia State,” Gwamnishu wrote.
He also noted that the body was missing several parts, including the head, two hands, and two legs, making identification challenging.
A curtain used to wrap the body matched one seen in Ochekwo’s residence, hinting at a possible connection to the missing women.
Families beg for justice
The families of Celine Ndudim and Afiba Tandor, the ladies who had gone missing after visiting a male friend they met on Facebook, are crying for justice.
Celine’s sister, Tessy Ndudim, told BBC News Pidgin the girls were declared missing on April 27, 2024.
She said she had also reported to the Abia State Police Command who had begun investigating the matter before it was taken over by the Force Headquarters.
This is coming after police authorities said they had recovered one dead body near the place the girls were believed to have lodged before their phones went off.
How it happened
Tessy said she got a call from her sister on April 27, who told her that the man she and her friend had gone to visit from Port Harcourt to Aba had kidnapped them.
That same day, Tessy said she travelled to Aba and reported the matter to the police.
She confirmed that indeed her sister, Celine and her friend, Afiba, had gone to see one man, Andrew Amechi, in Aba. After a few hours, Celine was said to have sent a WhatsApp message to one of her friends that she had been kidnapped and asked her to call the police and cry for help.
Celine said she shared this information with the police when she got to the Abia State Police Command.
“The police would have rescued my sister and her friend that week when I reported the matter to them, but they did not seem to take it seriously. They kept saying it was a gradual process and that wherever they were, they could not be injured.
“But I insisted, and they finally went for a search in the area believed to be their last location. But, when they got there, they couldn’t access all the houses.
“I saw a car believed to belong to the suspect because my sister had shared a video of the car when it came to pick them up at a hotel when they arrived in Aba.
“The police dismissed me and said they would go for another search by 2 am the next morning. When they got there, they said they didn’t see anything,” she said.
Tessy said the response from the police made them write a petition to the Police Zone 9 in Umuahia.
An order was given by the Umuahia Command and some men were deployed to go for another search in that same location where the girls were believed to have been.
“It was the Umuahia Command that finally made an arrest in the same building I had told the first set of officers to check,” she added.
Tessy said her family had been distraught since the news broke, adding that her mother had been sick since then.
She begged the Abia State Government to lend their voice in the matter as many people had reported similar cases in the area.
Missing Ghanaian citizen married
Afiba Tandor, the second lady who is missing is a citizen of Ghana, who visited Celine and joined her on this ill-fated trip to see Amechi.
Afiba’s husband told BBC News Pidgin that he was not happy with the way the police were handling the matter.
He said the issue had lingered for more than one month and no headway had been made.
He said he spoke to his wife when she left Accra, Ghana with Celine for Lagos. From Lagos, they went to Owerri, Imo State, before they travelled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The husband also said he was aware that his wife, Afiba, accompanied her friend to Aba to see Amechi.
His worry became fear when he could no longer reach his wife, as she was not responding to his text messages.
The next day, he said he got a text message from a friend of Celine that Afiba had been kidnapped alongside Celine.
The man said he reached out to Celine’s family members who reported the matter to the police in Aba and followed up with all the things the police said they needed.
He said he did not believe that the body the police were said to have recovered was his wife’s until a DNA test was done.
“I am not happy and I don’t believe that my wife is dead. If I knew my wife was dead, would I be talking to you like this?
“I beg the Nigerian Police to do everything possible to rescue my wife and her friend,” he added.
Ghana High Commission involved
Our correspondent learnt that the Ghanaian High Commission had been involved in the matter.
A representative of the commission who spoke to Saturday PUNCH but refused to give their name because an official statement was being prepared on the matter said the entire commission was sad over the incident.
“Irrespective of whatever the case is, those ladies did not deserve this gruesomeness. Afiba is married and she has a family. She deserves to be treated with dignity.
“I cannot say much on the matter because of its sensitivity and also because an official report is still being prepared on the matter. It is sad,” the source said.
Suspect shot
On Friday, May 31, 2024, news broke that the prime suspect, Andrew Amechi, who was being transferred from Aba to Abuja was dead.
According to several reports and video evidence which are now online on X and other social media platforms, made public by Gwamnishu, the suspect was said to have died during an open fire with vigilantes.
The men who shot the suspect was said to have been arrested by the police and put in custody.
Afiba’s husband, reacting to this, told BBC Pidgin that he did not believe the suspect was dead.
He said, “I no believe am at all say Andrew Amechi don die until police show me im deadibodi and dem put hand for im neck and show me ogbonge proof say e don die, I no believe am!
“Andrew Amechi na sociopath wey di British Police also don declare wanted so no be pesin wey police go handle like small pikin. Make dem find way rescue my wife and ensure say justice dey served for dia mata.”
Decomposing body not Celine’s – Sister
Tessy Ndudim, Celine’s sister, said the decomposing body found close to the home of the suspect did not belong to her sister.
She said the fact that the body was decomposing showed that the person had died long before Celine and Afiba’s visit to the area.
In a video posted on Gwanishu’s Facebook page, some policemen headed by DCP Sanusi Mohammed of the FIB-IRT, Abuja, and a few human rights activists went for a search in the area and recovered a dead body wrapped in a curtain.
The body was said to be decapitated and missing some vital body parts.
Police said it was going to subject the body to DNA testing to confirm.
Police reaction
When contacted, the police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the development, but could not give much detail.
Mrs Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, however, said she would not comment on the matter because the case has since been transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
“We made an arrest on the case and we transferred it on the 21 of April to IRT of the force headquarters,” she said.
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking his comments when Saturday PUNCH reached out to him on Friday.
On Wednesday, however, on X, Adejobi wrote, “The police will address the media on this matter ASAP when the IGP receives a comprehensive report. Many of them are just speculating.”
Public outcry
This harrowing story has gripped the Nigerian public, sparking widespread outrage and concern.
The tragic disappearance of Ndudim and Tandoh, coupled with Ochekwo’s suspicious death in custody, has raised serious questions about the safety of online interactions, the efficiency of law enforcement, and the protection of human rights in Nigeria.
As the investigation continues, many are calling for more stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The need for improved police accountability, better investigative procedures, and enhanced public awareness about the dangers of meeting strangers on the Internet is more pressing than ever.
This incident is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist in our society and the urgent need to address them to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.
The families of Celine Ndudim and Afiba Tandoh, along with the entire nation, await justice and closure in this deeply unsettling case.
A Delta State-based lawyer, Mr Favour Ajuebor, said the police had a lot of questions to answer as to how a suspect in their care was shot on his way to Abuja from Abia.
He, responding via a Facebook post on his official page on Thursday, wrote, “How come he’s the only casualty in that outbreak? How come there is no report of any police officer who was attacked? How come he’s the only one who died in that vehicle?
“How did the attackers get the information on the route they were using? Something is been covered that should be uncovered.
Another Facebook user, Kenneth Efeh, wrote, “The police have been compromised. I don’t trust them. Andrew’s killing was a calculated move to conceal the heinous crimes committed by the syndicate. They know what they are doing.
“My only concern is the two ladies that are yet to be found. Now that Andrew is no more, the situation has become complicated.”
Another user, Fidelis Ozuawala, wrote, “It’s simple! Get the banks/Central Bank of Nigeria to fish out the various recent transactions that Andrew made, and get the receivers to say what such transactions were for.
“With that, we can know who Andrew is working with, for and for what he paid those monies for. Simple!”
Several other cases
In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed a troubling increase in the number of young women losing their lives after engaging in ‘hook-up’ activities.
This term, often used to describe casual sexual encounters, has taken on a more transactional connotation in Nigeria, with many young women resorting to it as a means of survival in the face of economic hardship.
However, this perilous path has frequently led to tragic outcomes, highlighting the broader issue of violence against sex workers in the country.
Ndudim and Tandoh’s case is not isolated.
In October 2023, a young woman named Mary Okoro was found dead in a hotel room in Lagos.
She had been there to meet a client she had arranged a ‘hook-up’ with through social media.
The man was later apprehended and confessed to having killed her after a payment dispute.
In another instance, Blessing Omo, a university student in Benin City, was found dead in December 2023 after she went to meet a man who had promised her money for sex.
Her body was discovered in a shallow grave near the man’s house.
The suspect, who was apprehended, admitted to killing her in a fit of rage.
These cases underscore the extreme risks young women face in the ‘hook-up’ scene, often leading to fatal outcomes.
The rise in such incidents has sparked public outcry and raised questions about the underlying socio-economic conditions driving young women into these dangerous situations.
A social commentator and women’s rights activists, Mrs Mercy Chepaka, speaking on the matter said the violence experienced by those engaging in ‘hook-up’ is part of a broader pattern of violence against sex workers in Nigeria.
She said, “Sex workers, including those in street-based, brothel-based, and online arrangements, face a high risk of physical and sexual violence, often with little recourse to justice.
“These young girls must be found. The government and the police should do everything possible to uncover what needs to be uncovered so the families involved can have closure.”
Further speaking, she said, “The tragic deaths of young women involved in ‘hook-up’ activities highlight a significant and distressing issue within Nigerian society.
“The violence against sex workers, driven by economic desperation and compounded by legal and social neglect, demands urgent attention.
“By addressing the root causes and providing safer, legal avenues for women to earn a living, Nigeria can begin to tackle this pervasive problem and protect its most vulnerable citizens.”
A study conducted in 2022 by the International Centre for Reproductive Health in Nigeria found that nearly 50 per cent of sex workers in Lagos had experienced violence from clients, police officers, or strangers in the past year.
The violence ranged from physical assault to rape, often occurring in settings where sex workers are most vulnerable, such as secluded areas or clients’ homes.
The legal and social framework in Nigeria exacerbates this violence.
Sex work is criminalised, leading to a situation where sex workers cannot report crimes committed against them for fear of arrest.
This lack of protection emboldens perpetrators, who know their victims are unlikely to seek help from the authorities.
Source: The Punch
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured a five-year conviction of a former Managing Director of Bonghe Micro Finance Bank, Grace Karka, for her role in a N32m fraud, with an option of fine.
According to PUNCH Metro, in a statement by the EFCC on Thursday that the agency received a petition from the bank alleging that the defendant transferred N32m while she was the bank’s MD to an unknown account.
The statement noted that the petitioner said the fraudulent act was discovered during an audit of the bank’s account domiciled with a commercial bank.
She was subsequently arraigned before Justice Benjamin Lawan Manji of the Adamawa State High Court on counts of criminal conspiracy and cheating.
One of the charges read: “That you, Grace Andreas Karka and Prince Moses Batalu, between August 2020 and March 2021 in Yola, Adamawa State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit theft of N66,792,960.00 from Bonghe Micro Finance Bank Nigeria Limited (account number 2013668857 domiciled with First Bank Nigeria Limited) by dishonestly moving the said sum without necessary approval, contrary to Section 61(2) of the Adamawa State Penal Code Law 2018.”
According to the statement, the defendant was arraigned in November 2024, but she pleaded not guilty, which led to a full trial.
The EFCC said during the trial, the prosecutor presented witnesses and tendered several documents, while the defendant presented three witnesses.
Following the trial, the judge found the defendant guilty and sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment.
“Justice Manji, on October 17, 2025, while delivering judgment, said the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted the defendant accordingly on counts one and two.
“The judge also sentenced Karka to five years’ imprisonment with an option of N3m each on counts one and two. The sentence is to run concurrently.
“In addition, the court ordered the convict to restitute the balance of N29,877,040 to the petitioner,” the statement added.
This is not the first time a former bank MD has been jailed for fraud.
In 2024, PUNCH Metro reported that a five-member panel of the Supreme Court upheld the conviction and six-year jail term slammed on a former MD of the now defunct Bank PHB, Francis Atuche, by the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division.
Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of a four-bedroom duplex with two sitting rooms and boys’ quarters in Lekki to the Federal Government after finding that it was used for illegal drug activities.
The judge, on Tuesday, ordered that the property located at Block 11, House 2, Mobolaji Johnson Estate, Lekki Phase 1, be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government following an application filed by counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Buhari Abdulahi.
Abdulahi told the court that the property belonged to a suspected drug baron currently resides in Canada, and was used as an operational base for trafficking Canadian Loud — a high-grade strain of cannabis sativa — into Nigeria.
“The property served as the operational base for Adebanjo’s illicit drug activities,” the NDLEA counsel said. “He purchased the house and used it to coordinate the storage, distribution, and sale of hard drugs smuggled into Nigeria from Canada.”
He informed the court that an interim forfeiture order had earlier been granted on March 20, 2024, and that, in compliance with the court’s directive, details of the property were published in the Daily Sun of May 20, 2024, and in the Vanguard of August 1, 2025, inviting any interested parties to contest the forfeiture.
“Despite the publications and adequate notice, no person or entity came forward to lay claim to the property or provide any explanation,” Abdulahi said, urging the court to grant a final forfeiture order.
He added that the application was brought under the NDLEA Act, which empowers the court to confiscate assets used in committing drug-related offences.
After reviewing the submissions and supporting documents, Justice Owoeye granted the final forfeiture order, describing the property and items within it as “instruments used in committing drug offences.”
“Having carefully examined the affidavit evidence and the unchallenged application by the NDLEA, this court hereby orders the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge ruled.
According to an affidavit filed by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasir Garba Bungudu, attached to the NDLEA’s Lagos Strategic Command, the agency had received intelligence in 2023 about a drug trafficking network smuggling Canadian Loud from Canada into Nigeria.
He said investigations traced the syndicate’s base to the Lekki property, which served as a warehouse and coordination centre for storage, financing, and distribution of the illicit drugs.
He said following weeks of surveillance, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid on February 5, 2023, during which they recovered 1.088 kilograms of Canadian Loud and arrested five suspects: Tijani Hakeem, Eric Makuo, Adaobi Fortune, Ahmed Jubril, and Ekwejunor Oritsematosan.
“Our investigation confirmed that the property was purchased and maintained with proceeds of drug trafficking,” Bungudu stated. “It was the central hub for the syndicate’s criminal operations.”
Four of the suspects were later convicted in Charge No. FHC/L/122C/2023 — FRN v. Tijani Oladapo Hakeem & 3 Ors after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges.
The fifth suspect, Ekwejunor Oritsematosan, is still facing trial alongside Femaffix Global Services Limited in Charge No. FHC/L/501C/2023 for offences linked to the same cartel.
NDLEA investigators also established that Adebanjo, identified as the ringleader, purchased the Lekki property to house his associates and manage the syndicate’s operations, allegedly using a firm to launder proceeds from the illicit trade.
“Since the property was sealed, neither Adebanjo — who remains at large — nor any representative has come forward to claim ownership or offer any explanation,” Bungudu added.
Justice Owoeye consequently ruled that the property and all items within it be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government as assets derived from, or used in, the commission of drug offences.
“The court is satisfied that due process has been followed,” Justice Owoeye declared. “Accordingly, the property and its contents are hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The Enugu State Government has confirmed the arrest of one Ozioma Okonkwo for allegedly defiling his two biological daughters, aged two and five.
Okonkwo, who is a native of Imo State residing in Enugu, was arrested on the night of Saturday, October 25, 2025, after a concerned citizen alerted authorities about the disturbing incident.
This was contained in a statement issued by the state Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development on Sunday.
According to the statement, the suspect is in police custody and will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
The ministry also revealed that the two children have been admitted into a government-approved shelter, where they are receiving medical care and psychosocial support.
Their mother, described as deeply traumatised, will also undergo therapy under the supervision of the ministry’s social welfare and counselling team.
“The Enugu State Government commends the Nigeria Police Force for their swift and professional response, which led to the prompt arrest of the suspect,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy on sexual and gender-based violence, the ministry warned that all offenders would face the full weight of the law.
The ministry also condemned the act, calling it “a heart-wrenching and unacceptable crime against innocence.”
The statement reads, “The Enugu State Government under the leadership of Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, remains unwavering in its commitment to protect every child and ensure that perpetrators of such evil acts are brought to justice.
“No child should ever have to endure such trauma, especially from those meant to provide care and protection.”
The government also thanked citizens for their vigilance and cooperation, urging continued support in efforts to safeguard the rights and dignity of women and children across the state.
In 2022, a father, Michake Ogbar, was sentenced to triple life imprisonment for defiling and raping his three daughters of age 10, 20, and 24 years.
Ogbar faced three counts bordering on defilement and rape, offences which violate Sections 137 and 258(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted varying weather conditions, including dust haze and rainfall, across different parts of the country between Monday and Wednesday, urging residents to stay alert.
In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet projected slight dust haze with good visibility over Borno, Zamfara, northern Kaduna, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States on Monday.
The agency added that isolated thunderstorms with light rain were likely in parts of Taraba and Adamawa States during the afternoon or evening hours on Monday.
NiMet forecast sunny skies with patches of clouds over the central region, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms and light rain in the FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States later in the day.
The statement read, “Cloudy conditions are expected in the southern region on Monday morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rains over parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
“Later in the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms with moderate rainfall are anticipated in Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom States.
“On Tuesday, NiMet forecast continued slight dust haze in good visibility over northern states, while Taraba and Adamawa may experience isolated thunderstorms and light rain throughout the day.
“Sunny skies with intermittent clouds are predicted in the central region, alongside chances of early morning thunderstorms in Benue and later moderate rain across FCT, Nasarawa, and Kogi States.”
NiMet also projected cloudy skies across the southern states, with moderate rainfall over Rivers, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom in the morning, intensifying later in the day.
The agency warned of possible flooding in parts of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River States, urging local authorities to activate emergency response measures where necessary.
For Wednesday, NiMet anticipated sunny skies across the northern region, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain expected later in the day, particularly over parts of Taraba State.
“The central region will experience sunny skies with patches of clouds, while isolated thunderstorms with light rain are likely over Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.
“In the south, cloudy conditions are expected in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains later in the afternoon and evening across Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom,” it stated.
NiMet reiterated a high risk of flash floods, urging motorists to exercise caution when driving in rain and for authorities in vulnerable areas to implement flood response measures immediately.
The agency also advised individuals with asthma and respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exposure due to dust particles suspended in the atmosphere over the northern parts of the country.
Airline operators were urged to obtain airport-specific weather reports from NiMet for flight planning, while the public was encouraged to follow updates via the agency’s website and communication channels.
NAN
Justice Rahmon Oshodi of a Lagos State High Court has ordered the remand of an accountant, Oguibe Nwachukwu, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged theft of N200m, to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The EFCC, in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, disclosed that the defendant, alongside his company, is facing 13 counts bordering on stealing.
According to the EFCC, Nwachukwu, in 2020, allegedly converted the sum of $36,000, which was entrusted to him by his former employer, Travelstar Web Logistics Limited.
The EFCC added in another count that the suspect had also allegedly converted the sum of $156,000 belonging to the same company for personal use between January and July 2018.
The statement read in part, “That you, Oguibe Promise Nwachukwu, being the alter ego of Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited and Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited, being a company incorporated in Nigeria sometime in March, 2020 in Nigeria, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of $36,000 property of Travelstar Web Logistics Limited entrusted to you, being the custodian as an accountant to the Travelstar Web Logistics Limited, thereby committed an offence stealing, contrary to Section 280(1) (b) and (2) (f) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“That you, Oguibe Promise Nwachukwu, being the alter ego of Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited and Wifamapp Royalty Global Limited, being a company incorporated in Nigeria sometime between January 29, 2018 and July, 2018 in Nigeria, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of $156,000 property of Travelstar Web Logistics Limited entrusted to you, being the custodian as an accountant to the Travelstar Web Logistics Limited, thereby committed an offence Stealing, contrary to Section 280(1) (b) and (2) (f) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
The defendant was said to have pleaded not guilty when the charges were read against him.
The EFCC noted that following his plea, the prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, prayed the court for a trial date and that the suspect should be remanded in the EFCC’s custody.
The statement noted that the defendant’s attorney argued there was a pending bail application and requested the court to remand his client in EFCC custody.
“The defence counsel, Kelvin C. Uzozie, informed the court of a pending bail application on behalf of his client and also pleaded that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC custody.
“After listening to both parties, Justice Oshodi adjourned till October 17, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application and also ordered the remand of the defendant at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos,” the statement concluded.
The EFCC has in recent times prosecuted high-profile financial fraud cases involving public officials.
PUNCH Metro reported on January 17 that the EFCC arraigned an ex-Accountant General of the Federation, Anamekwe Nnabuoku, for alleged fraud amounting to N1.9 billion.
Similarly, in April 2025, the EFCC arraigned the Accountant General of Bauchi State for alleged fraud totalling N8.3bn.
These cases highlight the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to tackle large-scale financial crimes involving custodians of public resources.
The Punch
A prolonged family dispute concerning the extensive estate of the late Chief Harrison Jefia has intensified, resulting in a criminal trial.
Joseph Jefia, the ninth child of the deceased and a cleric, is currently facing allegations of forgery and fraudulent claims to inheritance.
He is appearing before a Federal High Court in Abuja to address these charges.
The case with next hearing date fixed for October 23, is under charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/501/2024, where the Federal Government is the complainant and Joseph Jefia is the defendant.
Mrs. Onoriode Lyn James (née Jefia), the United Kingdom-based eldest child of the late Chief Jefia, had petitioned the Pastor-in-Charge of Region 23 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, where her half-brother, Joseph Jefia pastors a church, accusing him of illegally taking control of the family’s assets shortly after their father died in 2003.
These assets include more than 100 housing units, a mansion in Effurun, multiple country homes, large tracts of land, cash in various banks, and a road contract valued at N1.2 billion.
According to Mrs. James, Pastor Jefia and his siblings allegedly broke into their late father’s residence while the patriarch was on his deathbed, taking possession of all personal and business documents.
Investigations by law enforcement and forensic experts revealed that the document was fraudulent and unregistered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in violation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
The police subsequently charged Pastor Jefia for presenting the forged document in defense of his actions during a dispute involving his half-sister, whom he allegedly harassed during a visit to the family property in Effurun.
Court records show that the family had already shared the landed properties of the late Chief Jefia based on traditional arrangements and legal proceedings.
Despite this, Pastor Joseph is accused of continuing to collect rent from properties not allocated to him and allegedly selling plots of land belonging to other heirs.
The matter, which has spanned more than 22 years, has now reached a turning point with criminal charges brought against the pastor. The trial continues this month, with court dates scheduled for October 23.
Mrs. James has called on the leadership of RCCG, where Pastor Jefia is said to have served in various regions including Kolokolo/Enerhen and PTI, to intervene and uphold the church’s moral standards.
“Our father left enough for every one of his children to prosper. But Joseph’s greed, enabled by forged documents and disregard for family and tradition, has robbed us of justice for over two decades,” she said.
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