The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday docked one Shehu Aliyu Fatange, alleged to be director general of the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flag-bearer in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency in the 16, August by-election and one Esther Ashivelli Dawaki before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja for financial crimes.
The suspects were arrested on August 16, 2025, following credible intelligence that indicated that they are in possession of the sum of N26,463,000.00 which they kept inside a Toyota Corolla 2010 model, belonging to Shehu and packed within a hotel premises in Kaduna.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for EFCC, Fatange upon arrest, identified himself as the director general of the campaign office of PDP flag-bearer in the August 16 Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election.
They were arraigned by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of EFCC on a five-count charge, bordering on accepting and making cash payments in excess of the amount authorised by law, conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N26 million
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Esther Ashivilli Dawaki (F) and other, now at large on or about 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 (Twenty-six Million Naira, only), without going through a financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by the law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(C )(a) and 19(1)(d) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Another charge reads: “That you, Shehu Aliyu Fatange (M) on or about the 16th of August, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept cash payment of the sum of N26,000,000.00 (Two-Six Million Naira, only), which exceeds the amount authorised by the law to one Esther Ashivelli dawaki (F) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”
They both pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, following which prosecution counsel, M. O, Arumemi asked the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre.
While counsel to the defendants, E. N. Ogbu and A.A. Ashat had no objections, they made oral applications for their bail. They asked for a short adjournment as well as for the defendants to be remanded in EFCC’s holding facility, pending determination of the bail applications.
Justice Nwite ordered for the remand of Dawaki, the first defendant in the Suleja Correctional Center, while he ordered that Fatange, the second defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center and adjourned the matter till Monday, September 15, 2025 for the hearing of the bail application.