The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two individuals, Shehu Abdu and Isah Saidu, before Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court for allegedly providing false information to secure the administrative bail of a Chinese national, Ji Zhou, who was under investigation for illegal mining and economic sabotage.
According to an official signed statement made available by the Commission’s spokesperson, the duo were arraigned on Monday, June 2, 2025, on separate one-count charges for allegedly misrepresenting themselves as close associates of the Chinese suspect.
The EFCC said both men voluntarily posed as sureties for Zhou during his arrest, claiming to know him personally and pledging to produce him whenever required by the Commission. Based on their undertakings and a ₦10 million bond commitment, Zhou was released to them.
However, when the Commission attempted to reach Zhou for further investigation, the accused sureties failed to produce him. They later confessed that they had no prior relationship with the suspect and were paid ₦40,000 each by Zhou’s lawyer to stand in as sureties.
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 made him release one Ji Zhou on administrative bail—an act which he would not have done had the true state of facts been known to him—and which information you knew was false. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 105(a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 105 of the same Law.”
Similarly, the charge against Isah Saidu states:
“That you, ISAH SAIDU, on or about the 10th of May, 2023, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, gave false information to a public servant which made him release one Ji Zhou on administrative bail, an act which he would not have done had the true state of facts been known to him and which information you knew was false. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 105(a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 105 of the same Law.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, prosecuting counsel, Y.J. Matiyak, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand both defendants at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Kaduna pending the determination of their bail applications.
Justice Isiaka subsequently adjourned the matter to June 16, 2025, for ruling on bail and ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody until then.
The EFCC reiterated its warning against third-party surety arrangements and underscored the legal consequences of interfering with its processes through false representations.
