Court Rejects Akindel's Document in $35M Fraud Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Akpan Ekeret, rejected a document submitted by Akintoye Akindel as part of his defense against allegations of fraud amounting to $35 million related to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). The court ruled that the document, which was a photocopy, should have been certified as a true copy.

Akindel, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is accused of converting funds paid to NCDMB for the development of local refinery projects. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Akindel alongside two companies linked to the case.

The court has scheduled further proceedings for April 14, 2026, to continue cross-examination of prosecution witnesses. The charges stem from a petition regarding the disbursement of funds for a project that reportedly yielded no tangible results.