Lawyers Ask EFCC to Remove Photos of Clients Facing Corruption Charges

Lawyers representing two defendants facing corruption-related charges have asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to remove their clients’ names and photographs from media publications linked to their ongoing criminal trial.

The lawyers argued that publishing the identities of the defendants in connection with the allegations could damage their reputations and create the impression that they had already been found guilty before the court reached a verdict.

The petition was submitted by J Aboje & Co., also known as Compass Chambers, on behalf of Folashade Oketope, a former chairwoman of the committee responsible for the sale of Federal Government houses in Abuja, and Mohammed Kabir Usman, a staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

In a letter dated October 13, 2026, and addressed to the EFCC chairman, the law firm described the publications as an infringement on its clients’ constitutional rights, particularly the presumption of innocence and the right to dignity.

Lawyers Cite Presumption of Innocence

According to the petition, the letter followed an earlier correspondence dated July 28, 2026, concerning the publication of the defendants’ arraignment.

Oketope and Usman were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja, on July 13, 2026, on a three-count charge involving alleged conspiracy, breach of trust, corruption and the unlawful sale of government properties.

The allegations relate to the sale of four properties identified as Houses 3, 4, 7 and 8 at Plot 756, Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi, Abuja.

Oketope previously chaired the committee responsible for the sale of Federal Government houses in Abuja, while Usman was an FCTA employee seconded to the committee.

Their lawyers maintain that the defendants have not been convicted and should not be publicly portrayed as criminals while the case remains before the court.

The legal team also questioned whether the EFCC obtained permission from the court before publishing their clients’ names and photographs.

In the petition, the lawyers challenged the commission to explain whether it would apologise and withdraw the publications if the defendants were eventually acquitted.

Dispute Over Government Properties

The lawyers also referred to a separate case, identified as FCT/HC/CV/4094/2025, which they said was pending when the criminal proceedings began.

According to the petition, the separate suit concerns whether the properties in question belonged to the Federal Government and whether the committee could lawfully dispose of them.

The lawyers argued that the unresolved issues surrounding the ownership and sale of the properties should be considered alongside the criminal proceedings.

They urged the EFCC chairman to direct the removal of the disputed publications from all platforms where they appeared.

The legal team maintained that the defendants should be allowed to defend themselves in court without being subjected to what they described as prejudicial public exposure.

EFCC Reviewing Petition

The EFCC had not publicly responded to the specific allegations in the petition as of the time of the report.

However, a senior commission official, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that the agency had received the petition.

The official reportedly said the commission’s legal team was reviewing the matter.

The dispute highlights the debate over how anti-corruption agencies communicate information about ongoing prosecutions while respecting the rights of defendants who have not been convicted.

For now, the request to remove the photographs remains a demand by the defendants’ lawyers, and the outcome of the ongoing court proceedings will determine the criminal allegations against their clients.

A Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos State, has sentenced six men to two years in prison each for assaulting officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI).

The conviction was announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026, by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.

According to Wahab, the six men were arrested in the Alakija area of Lagos on October 10 following an incident involving the assault of KAI officers who were carrying out their official duties.

The suspects were subsequently arraigned before the Magistrate Court in Bolade, Oshodi, where they pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Following their guilty pleas, the court convicted each of the defendants and sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment.

The convicted men were identified as Ghadafi Ismail, Balarabe Mustapha, Usman Danladi, Abdullahi Bello, Kamala Garuba and Musa Idris.

Reacting to the development, Wahab stressed the importance of respecting public officials who carry out lawful duties on behalf of the government.

He warned that the Lagos State Government would not tolerate violence against enforcement officers, adding that offenders would face the consequences of their actions under the law.

The commissioner also urged residents to allow government officials to perform their statutory responsibilities without intimidation, obstruction or physical attacks.

The development underscores the state government’s position on protecting public officers and enforcing environmental regulations across Lagos State.

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is facing fresh allegations after a forensic investigator told a Kaduna State High Court that $600,000 was allegedly earmarked for officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries.

The allegation was presented by Segun Kayode, a forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), who testified as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing case involving the former governor.

Kayode gave his testimony on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, before Justice Darius Khobo at the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo, Kaduna.

According to the witness, the alleged sum comprised $500,000 and an additional $100,000. He told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations allegedly involving El-Rufai and some of his associates.

The investigator claimed that the discussions centred on efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation involving a company identified as Singularity.

The allegations form part of the prosecution’s evidence and have not been established as facts by a final court judgment.

Witness Details Alleged Plan Involving Singularity

During his testimony, Kayode alleged that the recorded conversations mentioned several individuals, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria AU Mustapha, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai.

The investigator told the court that Mustapha and Lawal were allegedly instructed to meet a person identified as Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used in the liquidation of another company.

According to his testimony, the template was allegedly intended to facilitate a similar process involving Singularity.

Kayode further alleged that the conversations included discussions about liquidating the company in Nigeria and Mauritius.

He told the court that Singularity was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

The witness also alleged that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he described as a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The claims were presented as part of the prosecution’s case. Their validity remains subject to the ongoing judicial process.

El-Rufai’s Lawyer Challenges Witness Testimony

The proceedings featured a legal disagreement between the prosecution and the defence over whether Kayode should be allowed to testify.

El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected to the witness’s appearance, arguing that Kayode’s name and a summary of his expected testimony were missing from the prosecution’s proof of evidence.

Erokoro maintained that the omission could affect his client’s right to a fair hearing, arguing that the defence needed adequate notice of the evidence it would be expected to challenge.

However, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), opposed the objection.

Adedipe told the court that Kayode had been summoned through a subpoena issued and signed on June 30, 2026.

He argued that the absence of the witness’s details from the proof of evidence did not automatically prevent him from testifying, particularly because the defence would have an opportunity to cross-examine him.

Erokoro maintained that the central issue was whether the defence had been given sufficient information to prepare for the testimony. He also cited Section 210 of the applicable Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, in support of his argument.

Court Allows Investigator to Continue Testifying

In its ruling, the court acknowledged that Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were not included in the prosecution’s proof of evidence.

However, Justice Khobo noted that the court records showed that the witness had been subpoenaed.

The judge ruled that the omission did not automatically make the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine the witness.

The court consequently overruled the defence objection and permitted Kayode to proceed with his testimony.

A further disagreement arose after the investigator submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk.

The defence complained that the document had not been served earlier, arguing that it needed time to examine its contents before questioning the witness.

Justice Khobo directed the defence to obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One for examination.

Following discussions between the parties, the court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.

The hearing lasted nearly eight hours, from approximately 12:26 p.m. to 8:18 p.m., with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.

El-Rufai Remains in ICPC Custody

El-Rufai appeared at the Kaduna court on Tuesday following an order directing the ICPC to produce him for the resumed proceedings.

His appearance came days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed his appeal challenging the refusal of bail by the state high court.

In its judgment delivered on October 9, 2026, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision.

El-Rufai has remained in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, in connection with allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly had previously petitioned the anti-corruption agency over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of more than ₦423 billion in public funds during his eight-year tenure.

The former governor is also involved in other legal proceedings relating to allegations of money laundering, fraud, abuse of office and other financial offences.

El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The allegations concerning the purported $600,000 payment plan remain part of the evidence presented by the prosecution and have yet to be conclusively determined by the court.

The next hearing, scheduled for November 30 and December 1, is expected to allow the defence to continue cross-examining the forensic investigator.