The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, on Wednesday, arraigned two individuals, Esther Ashivelli Dawaki and Shehu Aliyu Fatange, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged money laundering and vote buying involving ₦26 million.

The duo faces a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful cash transactions, and money laundering, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

One of the charges alleges that Dawaki procured Fatange to accept ₦26 million in cash without routing the payment through a financial institution — an amount above the permissible legal threshold.

Another charge accuses Fatange of personally receiving the funds on Dawaki’s behalf.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty.

EFCC counsel, M.O. Arumemi, applied for a trial date and requested the court to remand the defendants.

Defense counsel, E.N. Ogbu and A.A. Ashat, made oral bail applications and requested that their clients remain in EFCC custody pending the hearing.
Justice Nwite ordered Dawaki to be remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre and Fatange at Kuje Correctional Centre, adjourning the case to Monday, September 15, 2025, for the hearing of the bail applications.

According to the EFCC, the suspects were arrested on August 16, 2025, after operatives discovered ₦26,463,000 in cash inside a Toyota Corolla parked at a hotel in Kaduna.

Fatange allegedly identified himself as the Director-General of the campaign office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election held the same day.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement that the recovered funds are suspected to have been intended for vote buying.