The EFCC charged two people with money laundering in Lagos

QThe Lagos Zone 1 Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Ali Bala (aka Lawyer Ahmed) and Yusuf Umar Anka before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offenses Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, for alleged theft and money laundering amounting to £110,000.00 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand Pounds Sterling).

The duo is being tried on a ten-count indictment that includes theft, laundering funds and keeping stolen property.

Count one reads: ‘That you, ALI BALA (aka Lawyer Ahmed) and YUSUF UMAR ANKA, sometime in the year 2025 in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conducted financial transactions for proceeds involving your unlawful activities to disguise the source of the stolen £110,000.00 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand Pounds Sterling).

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Another count: reads: “That you, ALI BALA (aka Lawyer Ahmed) and YUSUF UMAR ANKA, between July and August 2025, in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, converted the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million naira) of the property of Salihu Muhammad for your use. Which is contrary to Sections 280 (1) (a) and 287 of the State Penal Code Lagos, 2011.”

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the ten charges when they were read to them.

In light of their pleas, the lead prosecutor, Bilikisu Buhari, requested a trial date and remand of the defendants to the correctional facility.

The attorneys for the first and second defendants, M. Abubakar and S. Makinde chose to plea bargain while waiting for their clients’ bail applications.

Judge Fadipe adjourned the matter to December 16, 2026 for hearing and bail application hearing. The judge also ordered that the defendants be returned to the Correctional Institution.