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Inside Edo
Advocate expresses safety fears after reviving questions on EFCC's handling of N6 Billion fraud case
Written By: Ehioze Gilbert
26 Dec 2025 04:43 PM
Benin, Edo – Emmanuel Ikhenebome, a prominent Nigerian advocate for governance transparency and CEO of Nossilas Globals Limited, has publicly voiced concerns for his personal safety following his recent inquiries into a stalled Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation involving an alleged N6 billion ($3.6 million) fraud in Edo State.
Ikhenebome's post on X (formerly Twitter), shared on Friday, detailed cryptic messages he received via WhatsApp, which he interpreted as potential warnings against pursuing the matter further.
In the post, Ikhenebome recounted that on Wednesday, December 24, an individual in a WhatsApp group shared a news report about his EFCC query with the comment: "Mr. Emma u dont have to do this." Two days later, he received a direct message from a former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the ex-chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, stating in Pidgin English: "Na your Abudu person na u dey call efcc for make them resurrect he case" – roughly translating to "It's your Abudu person; you're the one calling EFCC to resurrect his case."
Ikhenebome, who hails from the region, ended his post with a pointed question: "Am I safe?"
The messages appear to reference local ties, as Abudu is a community in Orhionmwon LGA, potentially implying pressure based on ethnic or regional loyalties.
The controversy stems from Ikhenebome's Christmas Eve post on X, where he directly tagged the EFCC and asked: "What about the N6b fraud case?"
This revived public attention to a January 2025 incident involving Jonathan Okunbor, a businessman accused of misappropriating approximately N6 billion from Edo State's 18 local government areas through his company, Kezmith Global Ventures, which he allegedly operated under the alias Godfrey Emode.
On January 15, 2025, EFCC operatives attempted to arrest Okunbor at Eterno Hotel in Benin City during a pre-trial meeting for the Edo State governorship election tribunal.
The operation was obstructed by Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 2024 election, who claimed Okunbor was a key witness in his challenge against the results that declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner.
Ighodalo and his team insisted the EFCC lacked a warrant, allowing Okunbor to evade capture. A viral video of the confrontation drew widespread attention.
In a swift response that same day, the EFCC issued a press release denying Okunbor's status as a tribunal witness, a claim confirmed by Ighodalo's own counsel and vowing to prosecute him for the fraud.
"Okunbor will be brought to book soon in connection with the alleged N6 billion fraud involving his firm," the agency stated, emphasizing it had "no business with any Edo State election witness without corruption charges."
The EFCC had earlier arrested Emode, who implicated Okunbor during interrogation.
Despite these assurances, there have been no public updates on Okunbor's arrest or prosecution throughout 2025, fueling criticism of delays in Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts.
Ikhenebome's revival of the issue, published via Daily South Nigeria, highlights ongoing frustrations with unresolved high-profile cases, often attributed to political sensitivities or resource constraints.
The EFCC has not responded to his latest query.
This development underscores broader challenges in Nigeria's fight against corruption, where advocates like Ikhenebome who have a history of pushing for accountability often face pushback.
Ikhenebome's post on X (formerly Twitter), shared on Friday, detailed cryptic messages he received via WhatsApp, which he interpreted as potential warnings against pursuing the matter further.
In the post, Ikhenebome recounted that on Wednesday, December 24, an individual in a WhatsApp group shared a news report about his EFCC query with the comment: "Mr. Emma u dont have to do this." Two days later, he received a direct message from a former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the ex-chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Area, stating in Pidgin English: "Na your Abudu person na u dey call efcc for make them resurrect he case" – roughly translating to "It's your Abudu person; you're the one calling EFCC to resurrect his case."
Ikhenebome, who hails from the region, ended his post with a pointed question: "Am I safe?"
The messages appear to reference local ties, as Abudu is a community in Orhionmwon LGA, potentially implying pressure based on ethnic or regional loyalties.
The controversy stems from Ikhenebome's Christmas Eve post on X, where he directly tagged the EFCC and asked: "What about the N6b fraud case?"
This revived public attention to a January 2025 incident involving Jonathan Okunbor, a businessman accused of misappropriating approximately N6 billion from Edo State's 18 local government areas through his company, Kezmith Global Ventures, which he allegedly operated under the alias Godfrey Emode.
On January 15, 2025, EFCC operatives attempted to arrest Okunbor at Eterno Hotel in Benin City during a pre-trial meeting for the Edo State governorship election tribunal.
The operation was obstructed by Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 2024 election, who claimed Okunbor was a key witness in his challenge against the results that declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner.
Ighodalo and his team insisted the EFCC lacked a warrant, allowing Okunbor to evade capture. A viral video of the confrontation drew widespread attention.
In a swift response that same day, the EFCC issued a press release denying Okunbor's status as a tribunal witness, a claim confirmed by Ighodalo's own counsel and vowing to prosecute him for the fraud.
"Okunbor will be brought to book soon in connection with the alleged N6 billion fraud involving his firm," the agency stated, emphasizing it had "no business with any Edo State election witness without corruption charges."
The EFCC had earlier arrested Emode, who implicated Okunbor during interrogation.
Despite these assurances, there have been no public updates on Okunbor's arrest or prosecution throughout 2025, fueling criticism of delays in Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts.
Ikhenebome's revival of the issue, published via Daily South Nigeria, highlights ongoing frustrations with unresolved high-profile cases, often attributed to political sensitivities or resource constraints.
The EFCC has not responded to his latest query.
This development underscores broader challenges in Nigeria's fight against corruption, where advocates like Ikhenebome who have a history of pushing for accountability often face pushback.
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