The trial of two Indian nationals, one British citizen, and two companies—Agrico Agbe Limited and Wilben Trade Limited—concerning an alleged $42.5 million rice import fraud involving Ecobank Plc has been delayed following Justice Akintayo Aluko’s decision to recuse himself from the case. The defendants, identified as Prem Garg, Devashish Garg, and Marcus Wade, face five charges including conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, cheating, and conversion.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has reserved his ruling on the bail application for social media influencer Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, commonly known as Blessing CEO, until June 9, 2026. Following arguments from the prosecution and defense on Friday, the court deferred its decision.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Blessing CEO is currently standing trial on a two-count charge filed by the EFCC regarding an alleged ₦36 million fraud. The allegations state that between July 14 and July 17, 2024, she obtained ₦36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretense of leasing a six-bedroom duplex in Lekki, Lagos, and subsequently converted the funds for personal use.

Key developments in the case include:

• Plea and Custody: Blessing CEO pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court previously ordered her remand in EFCC custody.

• Refund Claims: Defense counsel P.I. Nwafor stated that the defendant has already refunded ₦24 million and sought time to negotiate a settlement for the remaining balance.

• Prosecution Stance: The EFCC maintains that private settlement discussions do not impact the ongoing criminal proceedings, as the Federal Government is the complainant in the matter.

• Judicial Directive: Justice Dipeolu previously allowed settlement discussions to proceed parallel to the court case while directing the defendant to take her plea.

Following her resignation from the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) on May 28, 2026, former presidential aspirant Mrs. Abisayo Busari-Akinnadeju has confirmed the receipt of a ₦10.8 million refund from the party. This payment covers a portion of the presidential nomination fee she originally paid in April 2026, with a remaining balance of ₦1.2 million still outstanding.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Busari-Akinnadeju resigned citing the party’s move to force a consensus candidate—a process she contends violated the Electoral Act 2026, which requires the written consent of all cleared aspirants for such a selection method. She alleged that the party leadership utilized disciplinary actions and administrative barriers to sideline her after she refused to support the consensus model.

While she expressed gratitude for the partial refund, Busari-Akinnadeju maintained that the reimbursement does not resolve the underlying issues regarding the integrity of the party’s selection process.

“The return of the money does not return the integrity of the process,” she stated, noting that the refund serves as an admission that the initial collection of funds was indefensible rather than a remedy for the procedural flaws. She further emphasized that her primary concern now lies with ensuring fair political competition for future aspirants who may lack the platform to demand accountability.

Following this event, Busari-Akinnadeju announced that she is moving forward as a non-partisan figure, launching a new initiative called the “Dare Agenda” to advocate for purposeful leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections. She credited public support and media attention for pressuring the DLA to issue the refund, stating, “The strength of public attention is what made this refund possible”.