EFCC Arraigns PDP Candidate, Campaign DG Over Money Laundering Case

The Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election, Esther Dawaki, alongside the Director General of her campaign organisation, Shehu Fatange, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The two were brought before Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and making cash payments above the amount permitted by law, to the tune of ₦26 million.

One of the counts filed against them stated: “That you, Esther Ashivilli Dawaki (F) and other, now at large on or about 16th of August, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did procure one Shehu Aliyu Fatange (M) to commit an offence to wit: accepting cash payment of the sum of ₦26,000,000.00, without going through a financial institution, which sum exceeded the amount authorised by the law and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(C )(a) and 19(1)(d) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”

Another count read: “That you, Shehu Aliyu Fatange (M) on or about the 16th of August, 2025 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did accept cash payment of the sum of ₦26,000,000.00, which exceeds the amount authorised by the law to one Esther Ashivelli Dawaki (F) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition)Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”

Both defendants pleaded not guilty. Following their plea, EFCC counsel M. O. Arumemi requested that they be remanded while the court fixed a trial date. Defence lawyers, E. N. Ogbu and A. A. Ashat, opposed the move and sought bail for their clients, urging that they be kept in EFCC custody pending the ruling.

Justice Nwite, however, ordered Dawaki’s remand at the Suleja Correctional Centre and directed that Fatange be kept in Kuje Correctional Centre. The judge adjourned the case until September 15, 2025, for hearing of the bail applications.

The two were arrested on August 16, 2025, after EFCC operatives reportedly found ₦26,463,000.00 hidden inside a 2010 Toyota Corolla linked to Fatange at a hotel in Kaduna. Upon his arrest, Fatange identified himself as the campaign director for Dawaki, the PDP flagbearer in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election held that same day.

According to investigators, the cash was suspected to have been set aside for vote-buying during the election.