The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared one Rabiu Auwalu Tijjani wanted over alleged involvement in a financial crime amounting to nearly $1.93 million (approximately ₦2.9 billion).
In a statement issued on Friday, July 11, 2025, by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Tijjani is accused of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, and money laundering to the tune of $1,931,700.12.
The suspect, a 43-year-old native of Dala Local Government Area in Kano State, was last known to reside at 59 Murtala Muhammed Way, Kano. His current location remains unknown.
The EFCC is appealing to the public for useful information on Tijjani’s whereabouts. Reports can be made at any of the commission’s offices nationwide, including locations in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and others. Tips can also be submitted via telephone (08093322644), email ([info@efcc.gov.ng](mailto:info@efcc.gov.ng)), or through the nearest police or security agency.
Ex-Afromedia Director Jailed for Seven Years
In a related development, former Afromedia Plc director, Alhaji Mohammed Gobir, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja for his role in a complex, multimillion-naira and foreign-currency fraud.
Justice Raliat Adebiyi found Gobir guilty on all 17 counts filed against him by the EFCC, including stealing, obtaining by false pretence, forgery, and possession of fraudulent documents.
The case began in 2016 following a petition from Afromedia Plc, which alleged that Gobir had defrauded the company of hundreds of millions of naira and significant amounts in foreign currency.
Investigations revealed that Gobir fraudulently secured a position on Afromedia’s board by falsely claiming he would invest ₦1 billion. Once appointed, he orchestrated the diversion of funds—$3.5 million, $2.1 million, £51,000, and ₦514.4 million—under various false pretences.
Among his deceptive claims was the need for $250,000 to obtain a waiver certificate to access $250 million allegedly held by British anti-money laundering authorities. The court dismissed this as a “completely fictitious” scheme aimed at misleading the company.
Justice Adebiyi labelled Gobir’s conduct as “a betrayal of confidence and fiduciary duty,” noting that he also manipulated the firm into releasing over ₦514 million under the guise of facilitating a $70 million transfer from a non-existent London bank account.
Gobir was apprehended in September 2015 at his residence in Ikoyi after months of EFCC investigations.
The EFCC welcomed the judgment, describing it as a crucial victory in the fight against financial crimes and a reaffirmation that “no individual is above the law, regardless of their status or connections.”
