By Johnbosco Agu,Kwara

The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of three defendants, including a company, for offences bordering on unlawful possession of solid minerals, with a total of 58.23 tonnes of lithium and lead ore forfeited to the Federal Government.

The convicts are Abdullahi Dauda, Great River Mining Company Limited and Mohammed Aminu, a truck driver who conveyed the minerals.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, gave the judgment while deciding on the two separate cases filed by the EFCC against Dauda in one case and Great River Mining Company Limited and Aminu in the other.

The charge sheet against Dauda read “That you, Abdullahi Dauda, sometime in February, 2026 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, was found in possession of 18 tonnes of solid minerals conveyed in a truck with registration number: SKK-93-XB contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”

Similarly, particulars of the charge against Great River Mining Ltd and Aminu read:
“That you, Great River Mining Company Ltd and Mohammed Aminu sometimes in February, 2026 at Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court had in your possession of 40 23 tons of LEAD ORE a mineral of the Iron Ore family which mineral you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: illegal mining and thereby committed an offence contrary to S. 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.”

At the trial, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. 

Following the guilty pleas, Innocent Mbachie and Mustapha Kaigama, who prosecuted the cases on behalf of the commission urged the court to convict the defendants based on their admittance of guilt, the unchallenged evidence tendered before the court, and the provisions of the law

In his judgment, Justice Awogboro sentenced Dauda to 12 months’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦1 million fine.

 The court also ordered the owner of the truck used to convey the 18 tonnes of lithium to pay ₦5 million into the EFCC Recovery Account, while the mineral was forfeited to the Federal Government through the commission.

In the same vein, the court sentenced Great River Mining Company Limited and Aminu to 12 months’ imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦1 million fine each. 

The owner of the truck conveying the 40.23 tonnes of lead ore was also ordered to pay ₦5 million into the EFCC Recovery Account, while the mineral was forfeited to the Federal government through the EFCC.

End

By Musa Abubakar,Gombe

A High Court of Gombe State has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from enforcing the purported expulsion of Hon. Aliyu Usman Garry, one of the party’s governorship aspirants for the 2027 election in Gombe State.

The interim order was issued on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, by Justice Daurabo Luka Dalang of the Gombe Judicial Division in Suit No. GM/117M/26.

The court restrained the PDP, its officials, agents and representatives from implementing, recognising or acting on the purported expulsion announced in a press release dated November 2, 2026.

Justice Dalang also barred the party from removing, altering or tampering with Garry’s name and membership records in its register or database on the basis of the disputed expulsion.

The judge further directed the PDP not to prevent Garry from exercising his rights and privileges as a party member, including participating in lawful party activities, meetings and programmes.

In addition, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, particularly preserving Garry’s membership status as it stood before the announcement of his purported expulsion.

The interim injunction will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of Garry’s Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.

The court directed that the application be heard expeditiously and adjourned the case until November 24, 2026.

Garry’s legal team was led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Eko Ejembi Eko, whose brief was held by Celestina Yauta.

The ruling does not amount to a final determination of the legality of Garry’s expulsion. Rather, it temporarily prevents the PDP from taking steps to enforce the disputed decision until the court determines the pending application.

Garry is among the political figures seeking the PDP ticket for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.

By Joy Eze,Gombe

The Gombe State Government has secured a court judgment ordering Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Emmanuel Agene, to pay N3.6 million in outstanding accommodation bills owed to Gombe International Hotel, a government-owned facility.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by the state Ministry of Justice after Agene allegedly occupied a furnished two-bedroom apartment at the hotel for several months without paying for the accommodation.

Barrister Haruna Yelma, Director of Legal Drafting at the Gombe State Ministry of Justice, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Gombe.

Yelma explained that Agene, who was posted to Gombe State in February 2026 and is in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), approached the hotel management for accommodation shortly after his arrival.

He said that considering Agene’s position, the management offered him a furnished two-bedroom apartment at a discounted rate of between N40,000 and N50,000 per night, instead of the normal rate of about N120,000.

According to him, the AIG allegedly occupied the apartment for between two and three months without settling the bills, prompting the hotel management to make several attempts to recover the outstanding payment.

Yelma said the management initially approached Agene to settle the debt but alleged that he became uncooperative and declined to entertain their requests.

He added that letters were also sent to him through the post, but he allegedly refused to receive the correspondence.

The legal director said the hotel management subsequently approached the state government, which authorised it to seek the intervention of the Ministry of Justice to recover the money, being public revenue belonging to the people of Gombe State.

He disclosed that the ministry issued a formal demand notice to Agene, with the outstanding accommodation bill standing at N3,653,000 as of June 2026.

Yelma said when efforts to serve him with the demand notice proved unsuccessful, the ministry approached the court for an order permitting substituted service.

The court granted the application, authorising the ministry to paste the relevant court processes at the premises of the apartment occupied by the AIG.

He explained that the ministry subsequently effected the service and allowed the statutory 30-day period to elapse, but Agene allegedly failed to enter an appearance or respond to the suit.

According to him, despite being afforded several opportunities to defend himself, the AIG did not take advantage of the opportunities, prompting the court to enter judgment in favour of the state government in October 2026.

Yelma said the ministry had also sought N800,000 in damages, but the court declined to grant the claim, as well as any additional costs.

He noted that the judgment covered the outstanding accommodation charges between February and June 2026, although the debt reportedly remained unpaid until the judgment was delivered.

The legal director further disclosed that Agene vacated the apartment following the judgment.

However, he said the hotel management subsequently reported that the AIG allegedly left with some of its property, including duvets, bedsheets, cups, kettles and other kitchen utensils.

Yelma clarified that the ministry had yet to independently verify the allegations concerning the missing items.

He said the ministry had obtained the approval of the state Attorney-General to formally write to the AIG, demanding payment of the outstanding debt and the return of the hotel’s property.

According to him, the ministry would consider further legal action, including criminal proceedings, if sufficient evidence emerged to establish a prima facie case of theft against Agene.

He warned that failure to comply with the demand could compel the government to take further steps to recover its property and protect public revenue.