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EFCC Arrests Abuja Businessman Over Alleged $120m Fraud

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EFCC arrests Abuja businessman Innocent Ezuma over alleged $120m fraud involving a Ukrainian investor and suspected financial crimes

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Abuja-based businessman Innocent Ezuma, 57, over allegations that he defrauded a Ukrainian investor of more than $120m.

Also read: Nigeria Confirms Ebola Case as 44 Contacts Monitored

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed Ezuma’s arrest on Tuesday, October 20, after investigators detained him at his residence in Abuja on Monday.

Oyewale confirmed the arrest when contacted by journalists but declined to disclose details of the ongoing investigation.

Sources familiar with the case said the businessman is being investigated for alleged advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal conversion, obtaining money under false pretences, theft and money laundering.

According to one source, the allegations relate to funds allegedly obtained from a Ukrainian investor between 2007 and 2015 for mineral exploration and power projects.

The source alleged that the projects were not delivered and that substantial portions of the funds were subsequently diverted for personal use.

Investigators are also examining financial transfers running into billions of naira involving companies and individuals allegedly connected to Ezuma, including members of his family, the source said.

Another source said the investigation was expanding, with the EFCC seeking information from people who had business dealings with Ezuma and individuals familiar with his previous activities in Nigeria and Ukraine.

The investigation is also said to cover Ezuma’s earlier dealings involving the privatisation of the Jos Steel Rolling Mill in Plateau State.

According to a source, Ezuma allegedly persuaded two Ukrainian businessmen in the mid-2000s to provide funding for the privatisation of the facility.

The source further alleged that Ezuma subsequently took exclusive control of the business, stripped the facility of assets and left hundreds of workers without wages.

The claims have not been independently established, and no charges have been announced against Ezuma in connection with the allegations.

The sources also alleged that Ezuma was involved in a violent incident in Ukraine in April 2008 involving one of his business partners.

According to the allegation, the businessman shot and seriously injured the partner during a confrontation before fleeing Ukraine for Nigeria.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged incident remain subject to investigation and have not been independently verified.

The EFCC has not publicly confirmed the additional allegations concerning Ezuma’s business history or the reported incident in Ukraine.

Oyewale again confirmed that the commission arrested Ezuma at his Abuja residence but declined to provide further information, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The arrest represents another major financial crime investigation for the anti-graft agency, which has continued to pursue cases involving alleged fraud, money laundering and the diversion of funds.

Also read: Nigeria Confirms Ebola Case as 44 Contacts Monitored

As investigations continue, the EFCC is expected to examine financial records, company transactions and the movement of funds linked to the allegations before determining whether criminal charges will be filed.

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Regina Daniels’ Friend Ann Izuegbu Remanded in Prison

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Ann Izuegbu has been arraigned in Abuja over alleged cybercrime and remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre until her next court date.

Anthonet Ngozi Izuegbu, popularly known as Ann and described as a friend of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged cybercrime.

Also read: UCL: Osimhen Scores as Galatasaray Beat Lille 4-2

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According to a report by National Waves, Izuegbu was rearrested on Monday following a petition reportedly filed by Daniels and arraigned on Wednesday.

After taking her plea, the court ordered that she be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned until December 10, 2026.

The allegations against Izuegbu reportedly include claims of theft and blackmail raised in Daniels’ petition. However, the precise charges before the court and the defendant’s plea were not detailed in the report.

The police are also reportedly expected to file additional charges, although no further charges had been confirmed in the account provided.

The latest court proceedings follow earlier allegations involving Izuegbu and Senator Ned Nwoko, Daniels’ estranged husband.

A statement previously issued by Nwoko’s media team claimed that Izuegbu’s earlier arrest was connected to alleged criminal defamation over statements concerning the lawmaker and his wife, Laila Nwoko.

The statement disputed allegations that Nwoko had physically assaulted Laila, resulting in a miscarriage, describing the claims as false and unsupported.

It also accused Izuegbu of involvement in other alleged misconduct, including claims relating to controlled substances and an abortion involving Daniels during her marriage to Nwoko.

These claims were allegations contained in the media team’s statement and should not be treated as established facts or findings by a court.

The statement further referred to a witness statement allegedly submitted to the Maitama Area Command on October 29, 2025, concerning activities attributed to Izuegbu and other individuals.

Nwoko’s media team maintained that the matter was a law-enforcement issue rather than merely a dispute on social media.

Izuegbu’s previous court appearance was reportedly stalled on July 16, 2026, when the matter came before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to the report, she collapsed and was absent from the proceedings, prompting the court to adjourn the matter to September 15, 2026.

The latest arraignment marks a further development in the case, which has attracted public attention because of the individuals involved and the allegations circulated in the media.

Also read: UCL: Osimhen Scores as Galatasaray Beat Lille 4-2

Izuegbu’s remand does not amount to a conviction. The allegations against her remain subject to the court process, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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Police Arrest 19-Year-Old Over Stolen Phone in Anambra

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Police have arrested a 19-year-old suspect over a stolen phone in Anambra, following an intelligence-led operation in Awka

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The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old suspect over an allegedly stolen Infinix Android phone linked to Adamawa State.

Also read: Kano Governor Praises Tinubu Over Abuja-Kano Road Project

The suspect, identified as Mustapha Sani, was arrested on October 19, 2026, by operatives of the State Intelligence Department in Awka following an intelligence-led operation, the police said.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Thursday, adding that preliminary findings suggested the suspect had allegedly stolen mobile phones from unsuspecting victims in Adamawa before travelling to Anambra.

According to the police, the devices were reportedly intended for sale or personal use after the suspect fled the state.

“The recovered phone is currently being investigated to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged offence,” Ikenga said.

He added that investigators were working to determine the suspect’s alleged involvement and facilitate the return of the recovered device to its rightful owner.

The command said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft and determine whether the suspect was involved in other offences.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Ama, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime, recovering stolen property and ensuring that suspects were dealt with in accordance with the law.

Ama also assured residents and visitors that the police would continue intelligence-led operations and proactive patrols to protect lives and property and maintain public order across the state.

The arrest comes amid other reported cases involving mobile phone theft and alleged financial fraud in the region.

In a separate incident, the Borno State Police Command reportedly arrested six suspects over the alleged theft of a mobile phone and the unlawful withdrawal of N5.65m from the owner’s bank account.

The victim, identified as Abba K., reportedly told police that his Infinix Smart 8 phone went missing from his pocket after he alighted from a commercial tricycle on October 13, 2026, along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.

The Borno case remains separate from the Anambra investigation.

The Anambra police have not disclosed whether the 19-year-old suspect has been charged in court.

Also read: Kano Governor Praises Tinubu Over Abuja-Kano Road Project

He remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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Houthi Attacks: US Orders Staff, Families Out of Saudi Arabia

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The US orders non-essential embassy staff and families to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks intensify, causing deaths and disrupting travel (more…)

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