- Over N26m Alleged Vote-Buying
- Case Adjourned till Monday, September 15, 2025
- Justice Nwite remanded the suspects in custody
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two suspects, Esther Ashivelli Dawaki and Shehu Aliyu Fatange, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to Eko Hot Blog, the commission charged them with a five-count charge, including conspiracy and money laundering, involving a total sum of N26,463,000 which the EFCC alleges the suspects used for a vote-buying scheme.
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According to a statement from EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the commission arrested the duo on August 16, 2025. This came after they received credible intelligence that exposed the suspects’ possession of the large sum.
Agents discovered the cash inside a Toyota Corolla that belonged to Fatange. The car was parked within the premises of a hotel in Kaduna.
Upon his arrest, Fatange identified himself as the Director-General of the campaign office for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency by-election.
During their arraignment, both suspects pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. The prosecution counsel, M. O. Arumemi, then asked the court to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional center.
Defense counsels E. N. Ogbu and A. A. Ashat did not object to the prosecution’s request for a trial date, but they made oral applications for their clients’ bail. They asked for a short adjournment and requested that the defendants be held in the EFCC’s facility pending the bail hearing.
Justice Nwite, however, rejected their request. He ordered Dawaki, the first defendant, to the Suleja Correctional Center and Fatange, the second defendant, to the Kuje Correctional Center.
The judge then adjourned the case until Monday, September 15, 2025, for the hearing on the bail applications.
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