The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Esther Ashivelli Dawaki and Shehu Aliyu Fatange, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of money laundering and vote buying involving N26 million.
The duo is standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, accepting and making cash payments in excess of legally approved limits, and money laundering in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the charge sheet, Dawaki was accused of procuring Fatange to accept a cash payment of N26 million without passing through a financial institution, an offence punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Act. Fatange was also accused of receiving the said sum from Dawaki in contravention of Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d) of the Act.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, prosecution counsel M.O. Arumemi applied for a trial date and requested that the defendants be remanded in custody.
Defence counsel, E.N. Ogbu and A.A. Ashat, did not oppose the application but sought an adjournment for the hearing of bail applications. They also prayed the court to remand the defendants in EFCC custody pending the determination of their bail.
Justice Nwite, however, ordered Dawaki to be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre, while Fatange was sent to Kuje Correctional Centre. The matter was adjourned to Monday, September 15, 2025, for the hearing of bail applications.
EFCC investigations revealed that the defendants were arrested on August 16, 2025, after operatives intercepted N26,463,000.00 hidden inside a Toyota Corolla (2010 model) belonging to Fatange, parked within a hotel premises in Kaduna.
Upon arrest, Fatange reportedly identified himself as the Director-General of the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election, which was held the same day. The recovered cash was suspected to have been set aside for vote buying during the election.
