A witness from the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Adams, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that a defendant, Moses Oddiri, allegedly used Facebook to accuse the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, of diverting N4 billion.
Adams, who testified as the first prosecution witness (PW-1) before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, said he serves in the DSS Economic Intelligence and Investigation Department. He gave evidence while being led by prosecuting counsel, C.S. Orubor.
The witness told the court that during investigation, he examined Oddiri’s mobile phone and Facebook page, where he discovered videos in which the defendant allegedly accused Olukoyede of intercepting and stealing N4 billion released by Heritage Operational Services Limited for the Orogun Community in Delta State.
Asked if he knew the defendant, Adams replied: “Yes, my lord. I got to know him in the course of investigating his case.”
He said the DSS received a petition from the EFCC on September 23, 2025, alleging that Oddiri had published and circulated on social media false claims that Olukoyede embezzled over N4 billion in royalties recovered by the commission on behalf of the Orogun Community.
“Based on this, my director instructed me and my team to investigate the matter,” Adams said.
According to him, the defendant was arrested in Lagos on November 10, 2025, and brought to the DSS office for questioning.
“During the interview, which was audio-visually recorded in the presence of a legal aid counsel, Oddiri volunteered his statement under caution. Other witnesses were also invited and interviewed,” he said.
Adams further told the court that investigators downloaded several videos from the defendant’s Facebook page in which he allegedly accused the EFCC chairman of diverting the N4 billion royalty payment meant for the Orogun Community.
He said the DSS also obtained bank statements from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Zenith Bank, receipts, and incorporation documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission relating to community development entities operating OML 30 in Delta State, including the Orogun Kingdom Community Trust registered by the defendant.
The witness added that the agency obtained copies of letters relating to a petition written by the defendant and addressed to the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom, as well as a letter from Wahab Shittu, SAN, counsel to the EFCC chairman, demanding a retraction of the allegations.
“We thereafter submitted a preliminary report to our superior,” Adams said, adding that a certificate of compliance was also filed.
Following recommendations in the preliminary report, the DSS sought further information from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the industry regulator.
Earlier, Orubor informed the court that the matter was fixed for commencement of trial and hearing of a bail application.
“We are ready to proceed and our witness is in court,” he said.
However, defence counsel, M. Adeniran, objected to the commencement of trial, arguing that he had no access to his client, who had been in DSS custody.
“We have a challenge with the trial. The defendant has been in DSS detention and we have had no access to him,” Adeniran told the court.
Despite the objection, Justice Abdulmalik directed that the trial should proceed.
The defence counsel insisted on an adjournment, stating that the defendant had not been able to brief him.
“My lord, it is a criminal trial. He has been in detention and has not been able to brief us. The DSS did not oblige us access to him. I am in court today but I do not know the full facts because I have not had access to the defendant,” he said.
The defendant also addressed the court, stating that his lawyer had not been properly briefed.
In response, Orubor maintained that all relevant materials had been served on the defence.
“It is unfortunate that my learned friend is trying to mislead the court. He has been fully served with all the materials the prosecution intends to rely on. He was in court at the last adjourned date and knows the business of the day,” he said.
After confirming that the defence had been served with the charge, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the trial would proceed. She adjourned the matter to March 13 for continuation of trial and hearing of the bail application.
Oddiri was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on cybercrime under Section 24(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024.
In one of the counts, he was alleged to have, on or about September 17, 2025, in Surulere, Lagos State, used his Facebook handle, “Moses Oddiri,” to publish a message titled: “THIS THIEVING EFCC CHAIRMAN OLUKOYEDE, OF OVER 4 BILLION NAIRA OROGUN OIL COMMUNITY FUNDS PAID BY HERITAGE OIL IS ALSO BEING REPORTED TO HERITAGE OWNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE…”
The prosecution alleged that the message was false and intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience, insult and injury to Olukoyede, contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) of the Act.
