ABUJA – The ongoing trial of former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, regarding allegations of asset non-disclosure, resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja. A prosecution witness detailed how investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly received over N200 million through 10 active bank accounts linked to his Bank Verification Number (BVN). Bank Accounts Tracked Through BVN The witness, Mr. Ahmed Yero, a Chief Investigator at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), testified that a total of 12 bank accounts were traced to Kyari. However, two of these accounts were dormant. He disclosed that despite Kyari declaring only three bank accounts, forensic analysis using the BVN portal provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exposed 10 actively operated accounts. Foreign Currency Accounts and Financial Analysis The investigator further testified that Kyari maintained multiple domiciliary accounts in USD, EUR, and GBP. “One of the accounts was a salary account used to receive police wages and allowances. However, after analyzing the bank statements spanning 16 years (2006-2022), we discovered inflows exceeding his official earnings.” The witness explained that some funds were transferred directly from CBN under the label “operational funds” but were later disbursed to family members and associates. Undisclosed Assets and Trial Proceedings The court admitted as evidence Kyari’s bank statements, BVN analysis, and financial records. Kyari, however, declined to provide a written statement to NDLEA, opting to present his defense in court. When cross-examined, the witness acknowledged that Kyari was once hailed as a “super cop” and frequently handled high-risk criminal operations, including counterterrorism. However, he stated that the NDLEA team did not assess the number of operations Kyari led or their financial implications. Further testimony revealed that while Kyari declared some assets, including properties in Maiduguri, Borno State, he failed to account for others, attributing them to his late father and wife. Prosecution and Charges Against Kyari The NDLEA is prosecuting Kyari and his siblings, Mohammed and Ali Kyari, on a 10-count charge related to asset concealment. Additionally, he faces another eight-count charge for allegedly tampering with cocaine seized from drug traffickers at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. Alongside Kyari, four other officers from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT)— ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Inspector Simon Agirigba, and Inspector John Nuhu— are also facing trial. The trial, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, has been adjourned until March 24, as the NDLEA intends to present two additional witnesses. For more details on asset tracking in law enforcement investigations, visit NDLEA Official Website. READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Channel
Binance Executive Claims Lawmakers Demanded Crypto Bribe to Halt His Arrest Gambaryan Stands by Bribery Allegation Against Nigerian Lawmakers Tigran Gambaryan, Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, has reaffirmed his claim that three Nigerian lawmakers demanded a $150 million bribe to prevent his arrest and prosecution in Nigeria over alleged financial crimes. On Friday, Gambaryan publicly accused lawmakers Ginger Onwusibe, Philip Agbese, and Peter Akpanke of making the demand. He stated that they had requested the funds be transferred directly to their cryptocurrency wallets. As of this report, both Onwusibe and Agbese have strongly denied the allegations and have threatened legal action to clear their names. Gambaryan Shares His Experience and Family Struggles In a follow-up post on X (formerly Twitter), Gambaryan elaborated on his claims, stating: “Many asked me to provide further commentary on my previous statements. The truth is, what I shared was meant to fill in the gaps left by Wired and NPR’s reporting.” He described 2024 as an extremely challenging year for him and his family. Gambaryan, who previously worked as a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, emphasized that the U.S. government intervened to assist him during his ordeal. Reflecting on his incarceration, he expressed the emotional toll it had taken on his loved ones. “Being dragged through court on baseless, fabricated charges didn’t just hurt me—it devastated my family,” he wrote. He recalled the heartbreak of seeing his children cry, watching his 75-year-old mother in tears on television, and witnessing his wife break down in public. “I want to move on from this nightmare. I stand by everything I said, as it is based on first-hand knowledge and direct conversations with those aware of the events. This information was also shared with both Nigerian and U.S. law enforcement agencies.” What’s Next? Legal Actions and Ongoing Investigations While Gambaryan maintains that his bribery allegations are true, the Nigerian lawmakers involved have denied any wrongdoing and may pursue legal action to defend their reputations. The case has drawn international attention, with stakeholders in global financial compliance closely monitoring developments. For more insights into global financial crime and compliance, visit Interpol’s Financial Crime Division. (Backlink from a reputable source) READ ALSO: Follow the LMSINT MEDIA channel on WhatsApp: Join Our WhatsApp Group Hear: Chat on WhatsApp Join our Telegram Chanel.
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Sijibomi Ogundele, a well-known businessman from Lagos, was freed on bail after being held at the Force Criminal Investigations Department in Abuja. According to information obtained by our correspondent, Ogundele was detained by the police after a petition was filed by human rights attorney Pelumi Olajengbesi, who claimed that Ogundele had obtained $325,000 from a man named Kabiru Ibrahim on November 5, 2020, under false pretenses. In a copy of the petition obtained by our correspondent on Thursday, Olajengbesi stated that the sum was meant for the 50% payment of the agreed total of $650,000 for a property consisting of one unit of a three-bedroom flat located in an estate known as Leonardo by Sujimoto Home. The petition partly read, “In 2020, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele approached our client and fraudulently represented himself and the business by putting up a brochure showing the property and offering to sell one unit of a three-bedroom apartment at the Leonardo by Sujimoto Home estate. The property was listed for $750,000, but after our client and Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele met, the price was lowered to $650,000 with consideration offered to our client if 50% was paid right away. On November 5, 2020, Sujimoto Construction Limited acknowledged that our client had accepted the offer and paid $325,000, which was half of the $650,000 that had been agreed upon. When contacted, DSP Funmi Eguaoje, the FCID police spokeswoman, stated that Ogundele had recently been released on bail following a “interview.” READ ALSO: EFCC recovered over N248bn Crime Proceeds in One Year “He came on invitation yesterday (Wednesday), but they couldn’t,” Eguaoje stated. deal with the issue as of yesterday. Today, they were summoned for an interview. The interview is now complete, and he will now be released on bond. Attempts to contact Ogundele’s attorney, Kenny Umenyi, regarding the issue were unsuccessful because our correspondent’s introduction ended the call to his line.As of the time this complaint was filed, he had not responded to a text message that was sent to him. We Love To Have You Back. Pease kindly Provide Us With Your Email.
