Court Issues Arrest Warrant Against Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has instructed the arrest of former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin and two other officers on charges of money laundering amounting to N1.5 billion.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) brought the trio before the court on allegations of defrauding N1.5 billion.

The court issued the arrest warrant after considering a motion ex parte marked FHC/ABJ/CR/158/2023 filed by ICPC counsel Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.

In the motion, the lawyer argued that Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin Oyibe, Adam Imam Yusuf, and Brigadier General Ishaya Gangum Bauka (the first to third defendants) were investigated for money laundering and providing false information regarding diverting funds from their respective military and paramilitary institutions into companies where they purportedly had interests.

The lawyer noted that at the beginning of the investigation, the defendants were released on administrative bail based on self-recognition due to their positions as current and former public figures but have since failed to appear for possible arraignment in court.

The lawyer requested the court issue a bench warrant against the first, second, and third Respondents (Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin Oyibe, Adam Imam Yusuf, and Brigadier General Ishaya Gamgum Bauka) in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/158/2023, which is pending before the court, to facilitate their arrest and bring them to court for arraignment and trial.

The 17-count charge lists Usman Jibrin Oyibe, Adam Imam Yusuf, Brigadier General Ishaya Gangum Bauka, Lahab integrated & Multi Services Limited, Gate Coast Properties International Limited, and Ummays Hummayd Energy Ltd as the first to sixth defendants.