Court Adjourns Trial Over Defamation Of EFCC Chairman

The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday adjourned the trial of a man, Moses Oddiri, who allegedly accused the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, of fraud to the tune of N4 billion, until 25 March for hearing.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case following an application by Oddiri’s new lawyer, Godwin Ogboji (SAN), seeking an adjournment to enable him study the case file.

Ogboji had told the court upon the resumed trial that he had just been briefed to take up the case and was yet to meet with his client (defendant) and to study the case file.

The lawyer prayed the court for permission to see the defendant in the DSS custody.

Justice Abdulmalik, however, told Ogboji to do the needful by writing to the security agency regarding the visit.

1. G. Orubor, who appeared for the prosecution, did not oppose the application for adjournment, and the judge adjourned the matter until March 25 for continuation of the trial.

The judge also directed the secret police to inform him where the defendant is being held so his lawyer can access him.

LEADERSHHIP Weekend reports that a DSS witness, Yusuf Adams, testified in the last adjourned date against Oddiri.

Adams, the 1st prosecution witness, told Justice Abdulmalik how he explored Oddiri’s phone and Facebook page during investigation to discover videos in which the defendant accused Olukoyede of intercepting and stealing ₦4 billion released by Heritage Operational Services Limited in favour of the Orogun Community in Delta State.

The witness spoke while he was being led in evidence-in-chief by the prosecuting lawyer, Orubor.

The PW-1 added that the team requested receipts, bank statements from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Zenith Bank.

The team, he said, also requested incorporation documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission relating to community development entities operating OML 30 in Delta, including the Orogun Kingdom Community Trust registered by the defendant.

“We also obtained copies of letters of admonishment from the EFCC to a petition submitted by the defendant to the commission.

“The petition written by the defendant accused the EFCC chairman and was addressed to the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom, and a letter written by Wahab Shittu, SAN, counsel to the EFCC chairman, requesting the defendant to retract the allegation.

“We thereafter submitted a preliminary report to our superior,” Adams had said.

Oddiri was arraigned on a two- count charge bordering on cybercrimes and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ( Amendment) Act 2024

In count one, Oddiri of Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area in Delta, was alleged to have, sometime on or about Sept. 17, 2025, at Surulere, Lagos State, used his Facebook page, Moses Oddiri, to send a message.

It said the message was titled: “this thieving EFCC chairman Olukoyede, of over 4 billion naira orogun oil community funds paid by heritage oil is also being reported to heritage owners across the globe…”

The EFCC said the message, which was false, was posted for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, insult and injury to the person of Olukoyede.

The anti-graft agency said the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes ( Prohibition, Prevention, etc) ( Amendment) Act 2024.”