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 sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged theft and money laundering to the tune of £110,000.00.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Abike-Fadipe on a ten-count charge bordering on stealing, laundering of funds and retention of stolen property.
Count one reads: “That you, ALI BALA (a.k.a Barrister Ahmed) and YUSUF UMAR ANKA, sometime in 2025 in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conducted financial transactions of proceeds involving your unlawful activities to disguise the source of the stolen £110,000.00 (One Hundred and Ten Thousand Pound Sterling).
Another count reads: “That you, ALI BALA (a.k.a Barrister Ahmed) and YUSUF UMAR ANKA, between July and August 2025, in Lagos within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, converted the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million naira) property of Salihu Muhammed to your use. Which is contrary to Sections 280 (1) (a) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.’’
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, EFCC prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in a correctional centre.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, M. Abubakar and S. Makinde, respectively, indicated the defendants’ willingness to opt for a plea bargain, pending the hearing of their bail applications.
Justice Fadipe adjourned the matter to December 16, 2026, for trial and hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
