EFCC Arraigns PDP Campaign DG, One Other for N26m Money Laundering, Vote Buying in Abuja
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken action against a campaign DG of the PDP in Kaduna state, Shehu Fatange and a woman identified as Esther Dawaki, involved in alleged vote buying
- The anti-graft agency dragged the duo to the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged financial crimes
- EFCC detailed the court proceedings in a statement released on Wednesday, accompanied by their photos
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
FCT, Abuja - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, September 10, arraigned Esther Dawaki and Shehu Fatange before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged financial crimes.
Source: Twitter
The Kaduna zonal directorate of the EFCC confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday, shared on its X page.
The couple is charged with five counts of conspiracy, money laundering, and accepting or making cash payments beyond the legal limit, totaling N26 million.
Interestingly, 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 the determination of the bail applications.
Source: Twitter
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.
The suspects were arrested on August 16, 2025, following credible intelligence.
While Fatange upon arrest, identified himself as the director general of the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP flag-bearer in the the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency bye-election which held on the same August 16, 2025, the sum was suspected to have been earmarked for vote buying in the said election.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the police, in conjunction with other security agents, arrested a PDP agent with the cash sum of N25 million in the Kaduna bye-election.
According to the police authority, the suspect confessed that the money was meant to induce voters in the election and begged for leniency.
Reacting, Kaduna PDP defended Shehu Aliyu Pantagi, saying the seized N30m was for election logistics, not vote buying.
INEC staff, PDP leader arrested with cash in Ogun
In a similar development, Legit.ng reported that the police arrested some staff members of INEC with a huge amount of money allegedly meant to buy votes in the ongoing bye-election.
Reports indicated that the INEC officials were arrested along with a prominent politician, who some people said was a chieftain of the PDP.
According to the police, the investigation showed that the INEC officials had earlier received some payments from the politician before the bye-election day.
Voters beat PDP agent in Edo polling unit
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that a PDP agent was reportedly beaten by voters at the Ozolua Model Primary School, Iguobazuwa East Ward, in Ovia South West LGA of Edo State.
Reports indicated that the PDP agent allegedly refused to release the Permanent Voter Cards of some electorates, which resulted in the beating and manhandling.
The intervention of the police led to the de-escalation of the matter, as he was rescued by the security operatives.
Source: Legit.ng
