EFCC Arraigns Two Over Missing Chinese Suspect
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two men, Shehu Abdu and Isah Saidu, before Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court for providing false information to the Commission.
According to a statement by the EFCC, the duo was brought before the court on Monday, June 2, 2025.
They are accused of misrepresenting themselves as acquaintances of a Chinese national, Ji Zhou, who was arrested by the Commission over alleged illegal mining activities and economic sabotage.
Abdu and Saidu had stood as sureties for Zhou, assuring the EFCC that they personally knew him and would ensure his availability whenever required.
They also signed a bail bond worth ₦10 million, agreeing to forfeit the sum if they failed to produce him. Based on these assurances, Zhou was granted administrative bail.
However, when the EFCC needed to summon Zhou, both sureties failed to produce him.
They later admitted that they did not actually know the Chinese suspect and had merely been paid ₦40,000 each by Zhou’s lawyer to act as sureties under false pretenses.
The EFCC subsequently charged both men with giving false information to a public officer—an offense contrary to Section 105(a) and punishable under Section 105 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017.
The charge against Shehu Abdu reads:
“That you, SHEHU ABDU, on or about the 8th of May, 2023, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, gave false information to a public servant which led to the release of one Ji Zhou on administrative bail—an act that would not have occurred had the true facts been known to the public servant—and you thereby committed an offence…”
A similar charge was filed against Isah Saidu for his actions on May 10, 2023.
Both defendants pleaded “not guilty.” Following their plea, EFCC counsel Y.J. Matiyak requested that the court set a trial date and remand the accused in Kaduna Correctional Centre until the case is heard.
Justice Isiaka subsequently adjourned the matter to June 16, 2025, for a ruling on their bail application and ordered that both defendants be remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
EFCC Arraigns Two Over Missing Chinese Suspect