The Ikeja Special Offences Court has directed the release of $20,000 and N10 million to managing director of Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solutions Olalekan Abdul, marking a significant ruling in a high-profile case involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Mojisola Dada issued the orders on April 30.
The judge also lifted the lien placed on the bank accounts of Mr Abdul’s bail sureties Jemilat Oluremi Yusuf-Sada and Ayanyemi Ayantola.
“An Order granting delivery and/or restoration to the Defendant of the sum of USD$20,000:00 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) property of the Defendant (Olalekan Abdul) tendered and admitted as Exhibit B at the trial proceeding of 8/3/2023 and ordered to be held and kept in escrow Domiciliary Account in Polaris Bank, Ikeja in the name of the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State in pending completion of this case (now – concluded) be and is hereby granted,” the court ruled.
In the same vein, the court also declared “That an Order lifting the lien on and directing the release to the Defendant (Olalekan Abdul) of the sum of N10,000,000:00 (Ten Million Naira only) held in Defendant’s Surety’s Mrs. Jemilat Oluremi Yusuf-Sada’s Access Bank Account No. 1374520332 as condition for Defendant’s bail (as per the Ruling of this Honourable Court dated 31st day of January 2020) pending completion of his trial on the charge. In this matter (now concluded) be and is hereby granted.”
The EFCC had in January 2020 arraigned Abdul and Azubuike Ishiekwene, a veteran journalist and chairman of Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solutions, on a 26-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that Abdul and Mr Ishiekwene, along with two individuals, Adeyinka Adewole and Morakinyo Bolanle, who remain at large, conspired to fraudulently obtain N350 million and N1 billion from Wema Bank.
According to the commission, the defendants forged a document titled “Board Resolutions of Cleanserve Integrated Energy Solutions Ltd,” dated April 9, 2018, and used it to secure credit facilities from Wema Bank on December 14, 2010, under false pretences.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. In their defence, they filed no-case submissions in August 2023, urging the court to dismiss the case because the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them. Abdul, the first defendant, claimed he was being targeted by EFCC operatives after reporting a $20,000 bribe demand in 2019. The EFCC denied this allegation.
On November 17, 2023, the presiding judge ruled that the EFCC had established a prima facie case, requiring the defendants to answer the charges. During the trial, the prosecution called nine witnesses, while the defence presented four.
Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) appeared for Abdul, and Muiz Banire (SAN) appeared for Ishiekwene.
Amid the legal proceedings, the Lagos State attorney-general and commissioner for justice reviewed and took over the case. Before this intervention, the court had already ordered the recovery of the $20,000 bribe from EFCC custody, admitting it as evidence.
An EFCC operative had reportedly demanded the bribe to “kill the matter,” citing insufficient grounds for the claims made by nominal complainant Chris Ndulue. The Lagos attorney-general later filed a notice of discontinuance under section 211 (1)(C) of the Constitution.
Initially, EFCC counsel Franklin Ofoma filed a preliminary objection but later agreed to drop 20 of the 26 charges under Lagos State criminal laws. The remaining charges were amended on October 24, 2024, leaving only Abdul as the defendant, as Ishiekwene was discharged under section 155 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2021.
Before Abdul could be arraigned on the amended charges, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) took over the case in January 2025. The AGF subsequently filed to withdraw and discontinue the suit under section 108 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
On March 5, 2025, Justice Dada delivered her judgment, acquitting and discharging Abdul.
