The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two suspects before a federal high court in Abuja over alleged money laundering and vote-buying involving N26 million.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said the defendants, Esther Ashibelli Dawaki and Shehu Aliyu Fatange, were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and accepting cash payments above the legal threshold.
Oyewale said the duo were arrested on August 16, 2025, in Kaduna with N26,463,000, suspected to have been earmarked for vote-buying during the Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency by-election.
According to the EFCC spokesperson, the money was recovered inside a Toyota Corolla belonging to Fatange, which was parked within a hotel premises in Kaduna.
Fatange allegedly identified himself as the director-general (DG) of the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the by-election.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Esther Ashivilli Dawaki (F), and others, now at large, on or about the 16th of August 2025, at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did procure one Shehu Aliyu Fatange (M) to commit an offence to wit: accepting cash payment of the sum of N26,000,000.00… without going through a financial institution.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
M. O. Arumemi, counsel to the EFCC, applied for a trial date and requested that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, defence lawyers E. N. Ogbu and A. A. Ashat opposed the request, arguing that the suspects should remain in EFCC custody pending the determination of their bail applications.
Justice Nwite ruled that Dawaki be remanded at the Suleja correctional centre, while Fatange be kept at the Kuje correctional centre.
The case was adjourned to September 15 for the hearing of bail applications.