IKJA, Nigeria — Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court don order Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) make dem return $20,000 to Mr. Olalekan Abdul after him don dey acquitted for fraud case. Dis ruling happen for April 30, 2025, when Justice Dada grant application to release di money wey EFCC been hold as exhibit.
Di funds wey dey inside Polaris Bank account been be exhibit B as EFCC witness tender am for court. According to di court ruling, “An Order granting delivery and/or restoration to di defendant of di sum of $20,000.00… be and is hereby granted.”
Justice Dada also order make dem lift di lien wey dem place on Mrs. Jemilat Yusuf-Sada account wey be di surety for Mr. Abdul’s bail. Di sum of N10 million wey dey inside Access Bank wey belong to Mrs. Yusuf-Sada go also dey released, as na part of Abdul bail conditions since January 31, 2020.
Dis order follow di earlier judgment wey court give on March 5, 2025, wey show say Abdul, Managing Director and CEO of Cleanserve, plus di company chairman, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene, don dey discharged and acquitted for all di charges EFCC bring against dem. Di case involve 26 counts wey concern conspiracy, forgery, and possession of fraudulent documents, amongst others.
Di charges come from one Mr. Chris Ndulue wey claim say he be director of Cleanserve, but him no get any official record for Corporate Affairs Commission and no valid proxy documentation. Abdul and Ishiekwene plead not guilty when dem arraign dem on January 30, 2020.
Di trial wey last for five years, under Charge No. ID/11126C/2019, EFCC call nine witnesses while di defence bring four witnesses. Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) represent Abdul while Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN) represent Ishiekwene.
At one stage for di proceedings, di defence challenge EFCC dem use of a fiat from Lagos State government. Dem argue say di $20,000 bribe wey suppose compromise EFCC operative mean say di prosecution na “persecution.” After review, di Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), intervene and take control of di case.
Before di Attorney-General intervention, di court don already order say di $20,000 wey EFCC keep go dey recover and be admit as exhibit. According to case records, during di investigation for 2019, one EFCC operative demand bribe to “kill di matter,” claiming say di facts show say Ndulue no get case. Di complaint report reach Mr. Ola Olukoyede, wey den be Secretary of di EFCC, wey authorize sting operation for Lagos wey lead to di operative apprehension by him colleagues.
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