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EFCC Publishes ‘Most Wanted List’, Tompolo Number 1
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released information of its 76 most wanted people.
They are being hunted in connection with a variety of various offences and among those wanted are few politicians and former public office holders, most of whom are high profile and well-known.
In compiling the list of the seven most wanted, EFCc said it has taken into cognizance the effects of their crimes on the country, the sheer size of their alleged loot and the profile of such persons.
The seven most wanted persons on EFCC’s watch list.
Government Ekpemupolo = Tompolo
Tompolo is a former militant leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
He is wanted for conspiracy and illegal diversion of the sum of N34,000,000,000.
The former militant warlord is alleged to have mismanaged money from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Two bench warrants have been issued by a federal high court sitting in Lagos for Tompolo’s arrest but thus far, the security agencies have not been able to arrest him.
According to the EFCC, Tompolo’s last known address is No 1, Chief Agbanu Street, DDPA Extension, Warri, Delta State.
Mariano Albino
Mariano Albino is an Italian who was declared wanted in connection with a case of obtaining money under false pretence, stealing and money laundering.
According to information made available to the public by the EFCC, the amount involved in the alleged sharp practice amounts to the tune of N989, 288,400.
Fifty-three-year-old Albino speaks Italian and English languages fluently.
His last known address is No 9B, Ezekwuese close, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Jerry Ogbonna Obike Phillip
Phillip is alleged to have withdrawn a sum of N45 million that was erroneously sent to his account.
Following the alleged act, EFCC notified the public that “Phillip withdrew the sum of N45,000,000.00 that was mistakenly credited into his account in a new generation bank”.
“However, it was learnt that, before the money could be reversed to its rightful owner, Phillip had allegedly withdrawn the said amount.”
The money was said to have been paid into his account by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Phillip hails from Ovim in Isuikwuato local government area of Abia state.
Fady El-Daher
Fady El-Daher was declared wanted by the EFCC in March 2015.
A staff of El-Alan Construction Company located at No. 9, Macgregor Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, El-Daher is wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
Fady, a Lebanese, served as the project manager to the company’s construction site at Kofo Abayomi, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He allegedly colluded with some of the sub contractors employed by the company to inflate the cost of materials and measurement of work done on site.
Fady was last spotted at Murtala Mohammed International Airport Ikeja Lagos on July 27.
Abdulrasheed Maina
The former chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) was declared wanted for his alleged role in the alleged pensions biometric contracts scam.
Maina, ex-head of service Steve Oronsaye, and two others allegedly mismanaged over N2 billion pension funds.
He was, on July 21, 2015, charged at a federal high court on a 24-count of procurement fraud and obtaining by false pretence.
While Oronsaye and two others were present in court during their arraingment, Maina was amiss and has since remained at large.
The INTERPOL has issued a worldwide red alert on Maina, based on a request from the EFCC.
Desmond Osawaru
Osawaru is wanted by EFCC for obtaining $200,000 from a client under false pretence.
His unsuspecting client fell victim to a phony boat transaction and parted with the aforementioned sum.
Osawaru’s last known address is No.8. Alaka Street, Benin City, Edo state.
Saminu Turaki
The former governor of Jigawa state is wanted in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N36 billion.
Turaki has been on the run since his re-arraignment in 2011 on a 36-count charge at the federal high court Dutse, Jigawa state.
During the last sitting on November 13, 2014, 50year-old Turaki was absent despite a subsisting warrant for his arrest.
In May 2016, agents of the EFCC stormed the Abuja home of the former senator at 16 Dennis Osadebe Street, Aso Villa.
The team of operatives who carried out the raid were unsuccessful in their attempt to apprehend the former governor, as only members of his family were found at home
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
Nigeria and Israel yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in research, technology and innovation as both countries pledged to expand partnerships that will drive entrepreneurship, commercialise research and accelerate economic development.
The commitment was made at the closing ceremony and innovation showcase of the I-FAIR Cohort of the Israel-Nigeria Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (I-FAIR) in Abuja, where the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, announced that funding had been secured for the fifth edition of the programme, scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Freeman described I-FAIR as a practical demonstration of the growing partnership between both countries, saying it had enabled Nigerian innovators to develop local solutions to national challenges through Israeli mentorship and expertise.
He said, “This programme has never been about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It’s been about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation.”
The envoy noted that the initiative had brought together government, academia, investors, engineers and entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
Announcing the continuation of the programme, he said, “I am so proud to stand here today and announce that we have secured with our partners funding for I-FAIR 5 and I-FAIR 5 will be launching in October 2026.”
Freeman said the relationship between Nigeria and Israel had grown significantly over the past four and a half years through cooperation in innovation, agriculture, healthcare, education, water management and technology.
He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between both countries would unlock greater opportunities for startups, research institutions and businesses.
According to him, “Israel brings experience and innovation, technology, agriculture, healthcare, cyber security, security and water management. Nigeria brings extraordinary talent, creativity, entrepreneurship and one of the most dynamic young populations anywhere in the world.”
He added, “I have no doubt that the best chapters of the relationship between Israel and Nigeria are still ahead of us.”
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Architect Sonny Echono, also reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation through strategic partnerships with Israel and other stakeholders.
He said the I-FAIR programme aligned with Nigeria’s priorities in food security, agriculture, medicine, technology, clean energy and the circular economy, adding that TETFund would continue supporting initiatives that promote research commercialisation.
Echono stressed that collaboration between government, academia and industry remained critical to translating research findings into products and services.
He said, “It is this critical linkage, especially between science, engineering, technology and innovation, and the productive sector that is critical for translating R&D results and inventions into finished products for socio-economic benefits of our people.”
He disclosed that TETFund was working with partners to establish innovation facilities in about 60 tertiary institutions and had created a student innovation fund that would provide up to ₦50 million to students with commercially viable ideas.
The TETFund boss also announced plans for a National Research Fair later this year, where innovators would showcase products before policymakers, financial institutions and investors to attract funding and commercial partnerships.
Paying tribute to the outgoing Israeli ambassador, Echono described Freeman as a strong bridge between Nigeria and Israel.
He said, “Nigeria is grateful for your service. You have been a strong bridge between our two countries.”
Earlier, Head of Programmes at Innov8 Hub, Tolulope Aina, said sustainable economic development depended on building an innovation ecosystem that transforms ideas into successful businesses.
She noted that Innov8 Hub had supported more than 3,000 innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, helping them convert research into products, startups and investment-ready ventures.
Aina said, “Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of brilliant minds, what we need are stronger pathways that help those ideas become products, businesses, and opportunities that improve life.”
She thanked the Embassy of Israel and TETFund for their continued support in strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
According to her, “Building an innovation-driven economy requires collaboration, long-term commitment and shared purpose.”
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