By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, adjourned the trial of a man, Moses Oddiri, who allegedly accused the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, of fraud involving ₦4 billion, until March 25 for continuation of hearing.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case following an application by Oddiri’s new lawyer, Godwin Ogboji, SAN, who sought time to study the case file.
Ogboji told the court at the resumed hearing that he had just been briefed to take over the matter and was yet to meet with his client or review the case documents.
The lawyer also prayed the court for permission to see the defendant, who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Abdulmalik, however, advised Ogboji to formally write to the security agency to facilitate the visit.
E. G. Orubor, who appeared for the prosecution, did not oppose the request for an adjournment, and the judge subsequently adjourned the matter until March 25 for continuation of trial.
The court also directed the DSS, where the defendant is being held, to grant his lawyer access to him.
Newspot Nigeria reports that a DSS witness, Yusuf Adams, had testified against Oddiri during the previous sitting of the court.
Adams, the first prosecution witness (PW-1), told Justice Abdulmalik how investigators examined Oddiri’s phone and Facebook page during their investigation and discovered videos in which the defendant accused Olukoyede of intercepting and stealing ₦4 billion released by Heritage Operational Services Limited for the benefit of the Orogun Community in Delta State.
The witness testified while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Orubor.
PW-1 further told the court that investigators requested receipts and bank statements from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Zenith Bank.
According to him, the team also obtained incorporation documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) relating to community development entities operating within OML 30 in Delta State, including the Orogun Kingdom Community Trust, which was registered by the defendant.
“We also obtained copies of letters of admonishment from the EFCC concerning a petition submitted by the defendant to the commission.
“The petition written by the defendant accused the EFCC chairman and was addressed to the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom, as well as a letter written by Wahab Shittu, SAN, counsel to the EFCC chairman, requesting the defendant to retract the allegation.
“We thereafter submitted a preliminary report to our superior,” Adams told the court.
Oddiri was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on cybercrime, punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
In the first count, Oddiri, a resident of Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, was alleged to have, on or about September 17, 2025, in Surulere, Lagos State, used his Facebook account, “Moses Oddiri,” to publish a message.
The message was titled:
“THIS THIEVING EFCC CHAIRMAN OLUKOYEDE, OF OVER 4 BILLION NAIRA OROGUN OIL COMMUNITY FUNDS PAID BY HERITAGE OIL IS ALSO BEING REPORTED TO HERITAGE OWNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE…”
The EFCC alleged that the message was false and was posted with the intention of causing annoyance, inconvenience, insult, and injury to the person of the EFCC chairman.
The anti-graft agency stated that the alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
— Newspot Nigeria
