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By Purity Francis
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, arraigned Ali Bala, also known as Barrister Ahmed, and Yusuf Umar Anka before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged theft and money laundering involving £110,000.
The defendants are facing a 10-count charge bordering on stealing, money laundering and retention of stolen property.
In count one, the EFCC alleged that the defendants, sometime in 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court, conducted financial transactions involving proceeds of unlawful activities in a bid to disguise the source of the allegedly stolen £110,000.
Another count alleged that Bala and Anka, between July and August 2025, in Lagos, converted N500 million belonging to Salihu Muhammed to their personal use.
The alleged offence, according to the charge, is contrary to Sections 280(1)(a) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
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The defendants pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts when they were read to them.
Following their plea, the lead prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, asked the court to fix a date for trial and order that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, counsel to the first and second defendants, M. Abubakar and S. Makinde, indicated their clients’ interest in plea bargaining, pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Justice Abike-Fadipe subsequently adjourned the matter to December 16, 2026, for trial and hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
The judge also ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending further proceedings.
