Friday Audu, alongside a company, Genting International Limited standing trial over alleged forgery and related offences, has been granted bail in the sum of N50m by Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
EFCC amends charge against Friday Audu
Friday Audu and the corporate defendant were docked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an amended eight-count charge marked ID/25617C/25, dated May 17, 2025.
The charges are forgery, impersonation and possession of fraudulent documents.
The initial charges relating to conspiracy and retention of stolen property were dropped in the amended information on Friday Audu.
But retained core allegations surrounding forged documentation and false representation.
EFCC alleges that the defendant forged a document titled Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Declaration Form, purportedly signed by one Baffale Yakubu.
Additionally, Friday Audu is accused of being in possession of documents in which he falsely represented himself as the said Yakubu and another individual, one Nasiru Mohammed Barau.
At the resumed proceedings, the presiding judge admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50m, with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Oshodi ordered that the sureties must be individuals of means, who shall depose to affidavits of means and demonstrate evidence of gainful employment.
The sureties are also required to show proof of maintaining a bank account with a minimum balance of N50m.
In addition, the judge directed that each surety must present evidence of tax payment for the three years immediately preceding the current tax year, as issued by the Lagos State Government.
Furthermore, the defendant was ordered to deposit his international passport with the court, while the EFCC is to notify the Nigerian Immigration Service of the order within 48 hours.
According to Justice Oshodi, “The Chief Registrar of this court shall verify the satisfaction of all bail conditions. The prosecution shall strictly comply with the fifth condition and transmit the necessary notification to the Nigeria Immigration Service.”
Following the ruling on the bail application, Counsel to the EFCC, Mrs. Bilkisu Buhari called Mr. Baffale Yakubu, a Bureau De Change operator to testify as its fourth witness during the proceedings.
At the continuation of trial, the witness testified hat he had forwarded personal information and a signature to an individual named Kenny, for the stated purpose of registering a lottery company with the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Yakubu told the court that following the submission of his information, he was informed that he could not be retained as a director due to the nature of his existing business.
The witness also stated that he had introduced his brother, Nasiru Mohammed Barau, as a second director and submitted his brother’s signature and identification to Kenny for the same registration purposes.
Also, the witness said he was later introduced to the first defendant, Audu, by a Chinese national named Kenny in July 2024.
According to Yakubu, the data gathering process intensified thereafter, including the submission of his Bank Verification Number, BVN, e-mail address, National Identification Number, NIN, and bank account details.
The witness during his testimony stated that he was subsequently informed that unless he and his brother resigned as directors of Genting International Limited, the company would not be issued a licence. He claimed that he had requested the removal of their names as directors.
The witness stated that in December 2024, Mr. Friday Audu contacted him to inquire whether he had been contacted by the commission.
Yakubu responded that he had not. When eventually contacted by the EFCC in January 2025, Audu allegedly advised him to tell investigators that he was a director of Genting International Limited, albeit not an active one, and to provide Union Bank account details if asked.
The witness told the court that during his interview with investigators, he denied ownership of a Union Bank account and disclaimed a customer form which bore discrepancies in his mother’s name and local government of origin. He insisted the signature on the form was not his.
While the witness was being cross-examinated by counsel to the first defendant, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, SAN, he admitted that he was aware he and Barau were originally named as directors and that he was the one who requested their removal.
Yakubu also admitted that the signatures sent to Kenny were not forged and that he voluntarily provided personal information for the CAC registration.
He denied knowledge of being appointed company secretary and insisted he did not authorise the opening of a Union Bank account, nor was he aware of signing any such documents.
Trial of Friday Audu, witnesses in court
Earlier in the proceedings, the third prosecution witness, Mr. Chidubem Ogbuka, a Regulatory Compliance Officer with Union Bank PLC, had tendered documents allegedly linked to the disputed account.
On Monday, the second prosecution witness, Mr. Nasiru Mohammed Barau, had testified that he had no knowledge of Genting International Limited until he was invited by the EFCC.
Nasiru denied being a director or shareholder in the company, notwithstanding CAC records that listed him as holding 12 million shares.
He did not admit having an e-mail address [email protected] linked to the company.
Justice Oshodi adjourned till September 28, 29 and October 2, 2025 for continuation of trial.
