Terrorist and insurgent factions dominated the collections, with the JAS faction and its affiliates raking in roughly ₦7 billion—accounting for about 90 percent of nationwide ransom payouts. This total was driven primarily by two massive incidents:

• A ₦5 billion ransom reportedly paid following the April 2026 abduction of 416 people in Ngoshe, Borno State, led by commander Ali Ngulde, marking the largest single ransom payment in SBM’s database.

• An estimated ₦2 billion payout following the November 2025 kidnapping of 315 pupils and staff members from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State.

Beyond these major terrorist-linked factions, unaffiliated kidnappers and bandits collected ₦719.4 million (about nine percent of total payments), while the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) secured ₦53 million.

Geographically, Kwara State registered the highest ransom demands at ₦7.375 billion (32.3 percent of the national total, largely driven by a ₦3.52 billion demand linked to Boko Haram activity around Woro and Wawa), followed by Borno at ₦5.698 billion and Kaduna at ₦1.459 billion. However, when looking at actual payouts, Borno led the country with ₦5.0545 billion collected, trailed by Niger (₦2 billion), Kwara (₦278.3 million), Kaduna (₦64 million), and Sokoto (₦58 million), with these five states alone accounting for 95.8 percent of nationwide ransom collections. Conversely, states like Kebbi, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto, and Imo saw much lower demands, and minimal payouts—such as ₦70,000 in Cross River or ₦100,000 in Bauchi—often represented token settlements or arrangements finalized with supplies and food rather than large cash sums.

According to a statement released in Ibadan on Wednesday by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the case stems from a relationship that began on an Islamic WhatsApp educational platform where both Oyepeju and the victim, Fasasi Bayonle, served as tutors. Bayonle, an Islamic cleric based in Dubai, eventually fell victim to a severe betrayal of trust.

From Benefactor to Alleged Victim

Investigations revealed that the saga began in 2018 when Oyepeju approached Bayonle seeking financial assistance for accommodation after getting married. Rather than a cash handout, Bayonle permitted Oyepeju to temporarily move into his vacant property located at the Ikumapayi area of Olodo, Ibadan, before relocating to the UAE.

Authorities stated that Oyepeju, posing as a property developer, subsequently convinced Bayonle to fund land purchases and housing construction projects in Ibadan, transferring a total of ₦8,697,900 between February and August 2020. However, the arrangement turned sour when Oyepeju allegedly forged a “Transfer of Agreement,” sold the very house he was given to live in for free to companies linked to him, and converted the proceeds. Investigators also discovered that he never purchased or developed the promised land.

Court Proceedings and Remand

Appearing before Justice Olusola Adetujoye, Oyepeju pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following his plea, prosecuting counsel Sanusi Galadanchi requested a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded. Meanwhile, defense counsel B. Ajibola informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and served.

Justice Adetujoye adjourned the proceedings for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Oyepeju be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan, pending the next court date.