The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned lawyer Steve Adamu, Esq before the Kaduna State High Court on charges of disseminating false information to the anti-graft agency.
Adamu, appearing before Justice Darius Khobo, faces a single-count indictment for allegedly providing misleading details in a 2022 petition that prompted an unnecessary investigation. The charge, read in open court, accuses the defendant of “wilfully giving false information to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which information was used to carry out investigation on your complaint to the Commission, which information you knew to be false.”
The prosecution stated that this offense contravenes Section 16(1) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and carries penalties under Section 16(2) of the same law. The alleged incident occurred around September 15, 2022, within Kaduna’s jurisdiction.
Adamu pleaded “not guilty,” setting the stage for a legal battle. Prosecution counsel M.E. Eimonye immediately requested a trial date, while the defense team applied for bail, citing the defendant’s professional standing and lack of flight risk.
Justice Khobo, however, ordered Adamu remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility pending further proceedings. The court scheduled December 20, 2025, for the bail hearing, allowing both sides time to prepare arguments.
The case stems from Adamu’s petition to the EFCC, in which he accused his landlord of suspicious financial activities. In the complaint, the lawyer alleged that the property owner exhibited “no visible means of livelihood” despite a lavish lifestyle, including the acquisition of high-end vehicles and extensive real estate developments across Kaduna.
EFCC investigators, acting on the tip, launched a probe that ultimately found the claims to be baseless and potentially malicious. Sources close to the matter revealed that the landlord’s wealth came from legitimate business ventures and prior investments, with no evidence of illicit gains.
“False accusations not only waste public resources but erode trust in our justice system,” an EFCC spokesperson said, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to verifying complaints before taking action. Adamu’s arrest followed the conclusion of the probe, marking a rare instance of the EFCC taking action against a petitioner.
