Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed charges against two individuals before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of vote-buying and laundering of N26 million.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Wednesday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale identified the defendants as Esther Dawaki and Shehu Aliyu Fatange.
They were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on a five-count charge, which included conspiracy, money laundering, and handling cash transactions above the legal limit.
Oyewale noted that they were apprehended in Kaduna on August 16, 2025, with N26,463,000 allegedly intended for vote-buying in the Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency by-election. The funds were reportedly found in a Toyota Corolla owned by Fatange, parked at a hotel in Kaduna.
Fatange was said to have introduced himself as the director-general of the campaign organisation for the People Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the election.
One of the charges reads, “That you, Esther Ashivilli Dawaki (F), and others, now at large, on or about the 16th of August 2025, at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did procure one Shehu Aliyu Fatange (M) to commit an offence to wit: accepting cash payment of the sum of N26,000,000.00… without going through a financial institution.”
Both Dawaki and Fatange pleaded not guilty. EFCC counsel, M. O. Arumemi, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in custody.
Their lawyers, E. N. Ogbu and A. A. Ashat, opposed the application, urging that the accused persons be held in EFCC custody until their bail applications are decided.
Justice Nwite ordered that Dawaki be kept at Suleja correctional facility and Fatange at Kuje correctional centre. The case was adjourned to September 15 for a hearing on the bail applications.
