EFCC Charges Ali Bala and Yusuf Umar Anka with Money Laundering

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Ali Bala and Yusuf Umar Anka before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on charges of theft and money laundering amounting to £110,000. The defendants face a ten-count charge that includes stealing, laundering of funds, and retention of stolen property.

Specifically, they are accused of conducting financial transactions to disguise the source of the stolen £110,000 and converting N500,000,000, property of Salihu Muhammed, for their use. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their pleas, EFCC prosecution counsel Bilikisu Buhari requested a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional centre. The defense counsels, M. Abubakar and S. Makinde, expressed the defendants' willingness to consider a plea bargain while awaiting bail applications.

Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to December 16, 2026, for trial and bail hearings.