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Arraigns Toyosi, firms over alleged N442m theft
From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has continued its prosecution of corruption-related cases across the country, with significant developments in Abuja and Lagos.
In Abuja, the Federal High Court sitting before Justice F. Giwa Ogunbanjo on Thursday, October 23, 2025, adjourned the trial of a serving member of the House of Representatives, Nicholas Mutu, to December 8, 2025, for adoption of written addresses in an alleged N320 million Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) fraud case.
Mutu, a former Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, is being prosecuted alongside Airworld Technologies Ltd and Oyien Homes on 13 counts of money laundering and gratification filed by the EFCC.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Mutu’s counsel, P.I.N. Egwuatu, SAN, informed the court that the defence had decided to adopt the testimonies already given and formally close its case, citing a medical appointment.
The court granted both the defence and prosecution 30 days to file their written addresses, and 10 days thereafter to respond.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to December 8, 2025, for adoption of addresses.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 arraigned Ayodele Toyosi and his companies Reaprite Global Limited and Agrorite Limited before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, on separate charges bordering on alleged theft, obtaining by false pretence, and issuance of dishonoured cheques to the tune of N442.7 million.
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Toyosi and his firms were arraigned on 17 counts and 4 counts respectively.
One of the charges alleged that between October 2022 and October 2023, the defendants dishonestly stole and converted N212 million and $5,000, property of Chizim Esther Asiagwu and others, contrary to sections 280(1)(a)(b) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
They pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, sought a trial date and prayed the court to remand the first defendant in custody, while defence counsel Oladapo Hamzat urged the court to allow Toyosi to continue enjoying the bail earlier granted in another case.
Justice Oshodi granted the defendant N200 million bail with two sureties in like sum, both required to possess verifiable landed properties with registered titles in Lagos State.
The sureties must depose to affidavits of means, while Toyosi’s passport was ordered to be deposited with the court’s Registrar, with the Nigerian Immigration Service duly notified within seven days.
The court adjourned both cases to December 8 and 10, 2025, for commencement of trial.
