The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a legal offensive against Esther Dawaki, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, and Shehu Fatange, the party’s Campaign Director General, alleging conspiracy, money laundering, and illegal cash transactions exceeding the legally permissible limit. The arrests, occurring on the day of the bye-election (August 16, 2025), immediately sparked accusations of political maneuvering by the PDP, who claimed the EFCC’s actions were a deliberate attempt to stifle opposition and influence the election outcome. The EFCC countered, stating their actions were based on credible intelligence and not politically motivated.
The core of the EFCC’s case revolves around a sum of ₦26 million (approximately $35,000 USD based on current exchange rates) found in a vehicle belonging to Fatange. The EFCC contends that this money was intended for vote buying, a serious electoral offense that undermines the democratic process. The discovery of the cash, along with Fatange’s position within the PDP campaign, led to the arrests and subsequent charges against both Dawaki and Fatange. The EFCC’s statement detailed their suspicion that the funds were earmarked for illicit activities aimed at swaying voter preferences during the bye-election.
The PDP, however, vehemently denied these allegations, framing the arrests as a politically motivated attack designed to weaken their campaign and influence the bye-election’s results. The party’s chairman, Edward Masha, characterized the detentions as part of a broader effort to suppress dissenting voices. He criticized the disruption to their campaign activities and demanded the immediate release of both Dawaki and Fatange. Masha warned that the EFCC’s actions risked provoking peaceful demonstrations if the detained individuals were not promptly released and urged the EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, to intervene.
The legal proceedings commenced with Dawaki and Fatange’s arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The five-count charge sheet detailed the alleged offenses, including conspiracy to launder money and accepting/making cash payments exceeding legal limits. Specifically, Dawaki is accused of procuring Fatange to accept the ₦26 million in cash, bypassing financial institutions, while Fatange is charged with accepting the said amount. Both individuals pleaded not guilty to all charges, setting the stage for a legal battle.
Following the not guilty pleas, the prosecution, represented by M. O. Arumemi, requested a trial date and sought the defendants’ remand in a correctional facility. The defense counsels, E. N. Ogbu for Dawaki and A. A. Ashat for Fatange, while not objecting to the request for a trial date, made oral bail applications. They argued for a short adjournment and for their clients to remain in EFCC custody pending the bail hearing. This request aimed to avoid transferring the defendants to potentially harsher conditions in correctional facilities before their bail applications could be considered.
Justice Nwite, presiding over the case, made a ruling regarding the defendants’ custody pending the bail hearing. Dawaki was ordered to be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, while Fatange was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. This decision meant that despite the defense’s pleas, the defendants would be held in separate correctional facilities, not in EFCC custody, until the court could determine the merits of their bail applications. The case was adjourned until September 15, 2025, specifically for the hearing of these bail applications. This adjournment provides time for both the prosecution and defense to prepare their arguments regarding the conditions under which the defendants might be released pending trial.
