Alleged N1bn fraud: Court remands Kano electoral commission chairman, others
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered the remand of Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) chairman, Sani Malumfashi, and two others in custody over an alleged N1 billion money laundering offence. The judge, James Omotosho, made the order after Malumfashi and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to six counts during their arraignment […]
Prof-Sani-Malumfashi-Chairman-KANSIEC
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered the remand of Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) chairman, Sani Malumfashi, and two others in custody over an alleged N1 billion money laundering offence.
The judge, James Omotosho, made the order after Malumfashi and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to six counts during their arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Mr Omotosho directed that the defendants be remanded in the custodial centre in Kuje, Abuja, pending the hearing and determination of their formal bail application.
The judge then adjourned the matter until 28 January (Wednesday) for the consideration of the defendants’ bail application.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Malumfashi’s co-defendants are the Secretary of KANSIEC, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and Ado Garba, a deputy director, Account Department of the state electoral body.
The charges filed 1 December 2025 by ICPC’s lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, accused the defendants of unlawfully taking the sums of N450m, N310m and N260m between the months of November and December 2024.
The money was said to form part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
The prosecuting lawyer then applied for a trial date to start to present witnesses.
Responding, the defence lawyer, Mahmud Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sought to make an oral application for his client’s bail.
He said the defendants had been enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the prosecution and had always complied with the bail conditions.
He, however, said that if the bail was not granted, a short date should be given to file a formal bail request.
The judge, Mr Omotosho, requested that a formal, written bail application be filed to enable the prosecution to respond appropriately in the interest of fair hearing.
The judge then adjourned the matter until Wednesday for hearing of the bail application. (NAN)