The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, has continued its clampdown on financial crimes with the arraignment of two individuals over alleged fraud totalling N40 million, and the conviction of a Nigerian Railway Corporation driver for stealing N6.9 million.
In one of the cases, the Commission arraigned Martins Morakinyo, trading under the name Refined Edge Concept, before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly stealing N13,283,750 belonging to Jawo Technologies and Innovative Solutions Limited.
Morakinyo was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining property by false pretence, and conspiracy to steal.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, requested a trial date and prayed for his remand in a correctional centre, while defence counsel, B.J. Fayemi, sought time to file a bail application.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter till November 7, 2025, for hearing of the bail application, and December 9 and 12, 2025, for commencement of trial, ordering that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre.
Similarly, the EFCC arraigned Victor Azubike Awah, a lawyer, alongside his company, Sparkan Ives Limited, before Justice O.A. Okunuga of the same court for allegedly defrauding one Mrs. Onwuekwe Chioma Genevieve of N27 million under the guise of selling her a plot of land.
Awah faces a six-count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining money by false pretence, using false documents, and issuance of dud cheques. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecution counsel, A.M. Dambuwa, requested that the defendant be remanded, a prayer granted by the court.
Justice Okunuga adjourned the case till December 17 and 18, 2025, for hearing of the bail application and trial, and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody.
In a related development, Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, convicted and sentenced Christopher Ekene Ofielu, a train driver with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), to 18 months imprisonment for stealing N6,995,944 belonging to HabariPay Ltd.
Ofielu, who pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and possession of funds obtained unlawfully, was found to have exploited a system glitch to withdraw the money.
Following a plea bargain, the court gave him an option of a N1.5 million fine, provided he restitutes the full stolen sum within seven days, failing which the jail term applies.
Justice Oshodi also ordered that Ofielu’s biometric data be entered into the Lagos State offenders’ register and his salary account with Eco Bank restored.
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the developments in separate statements issued on Saturday, October 25, 2025, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to combating all forms of financial crime in Nigeria.
The sun
