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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Managing Director, Jimoh Yisawu, until January 18, 2027.
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EFCC accused Yisawu of laundering public funds and allegedly using part of the money to purchase treasury bills for himself.
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The former refinery chief was granted N500 million bail, with his international passport seized and foreign travel restricted without court approval.
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The adjournment comes amid a separate money laundering prosecution involving former Port Harcourt Refining Company Managing Director, Ahmed Dikko, and a company.
October 26, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until January 18, 2027, the trial of Jimoh Yisawu, former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, who is facing an eight-count charge of alleged money laundering brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The trial, scheduled to commence on Monday before Justice Inyang Ekwo, could not proceed due to pre-election matters before the court.
The court’s sitting arrangements were also affected by ongoing renovation work in some courtrooms, with Justice Ekwo currently sharing a courtroom with Justice Chigozie Onah of Court 15.
Following the development, the court fixed January 18, 19 and 20, 2027, for the commencement of Yisawu’s trial.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former refinery chief over allegations of money laundering during his tenure at the Warri refinery and his previous service with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The commission alleged that Yisawu laundered public funds and used part of the money to purchase treasury bills for himself.
Yisawu was arraigned on July 20 before Justice Ekwo on an eight-count charge to which he pleaded not guilty.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), requested a date for the commencement of trial.
Defence counsel, Wale Balogun, SAN, subsequently sought the court’s permission to move the defendant’s bail application.
Although Iheanacho opposed the application, Justice Ekwo granted bail, holding that the alleged offences were bailable.
The court admitted Yisawu to bail in the sum of N500 million, with one surety in like sum.
Justice Ekwo directed that the surety must be a responsible citizen who owns landed property within the court’s jurisdiction. The property documents are to be verified by the appropriate authorities.
The judge also ordered Yisawu to deposit his international passport with the court and prohibited him from travelling outside the court’s jurisdiction without permission.
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The court had initially fixed October 25, 26 and 27 for the commencement of trial before the latest adjournment.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/361/2026, was dated and filed on June 22 by Iheanacho, with Yisawu listed as the sole defendant.
The EFCC alleged that the offences contravened Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 18(3) of the same legislation.
Yisawu has denied the allegations by pleading not guilty, and the prosecution is expected to present its case when the trial begins.
Related Case Involving Ex-Port Harcourt Refinery MD
The money laundering case against Yisawu follows a separate prosecution involving Ahmed Dikko, former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, whose trial has also encountered delays.
The case came up before Justice Ekwo on October 14, but the court adjourned the commencement of trial until November 24 and 25.
Dikko was arraigned on July 8 alongside Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court admitted Dikko to bail in the sum of N50 million, with one surety in like sum.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/360/2026, the EFCC listed Dikko as the first defendant and Masterpiece Projects & Investment Limited as the second defendant.
The commission alleged, among other things, that Dikko used N218 million to purchase a property in Abuja.
The charge, dated and filed on June 22 by Iheanacho, cited Sections 2(1)(a) and 19(1)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, with the alleged offences punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
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