THE Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election, Esther Ashivilli Dawaki, and her campaign Director General, Shehu Aliyu Fatange, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The duo are facing a five-count charge before Justice Emeka Nwite, including allegations of conspiracy, money laundering, and accepting cash payments above the legally approved limit.
The EFCC alleged that Dawaki and Fatange were found with ₦26,463,000 on August 16, 2025, suspected to have been earmarked for vote buying during the by-election.
One of the charges stated that Dawaki procured Fatange to accept ₦26 million in cash without using a financial institution, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another charge directly accused Fatange of receiving the same cash sum from Dawaki.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel M.O. Arumemi requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the accused in custody. Defence counsel, however, applied for bail and asked that their clients remain in EFCC custody pending determination of the applications.
Justice Nwite ordered that Dawaki be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre and Fatange at Kuje Correctional Centre. The case was adjourned until Monday, September 15, 2025, for hearing on their bail applications.
According to the EFCC, the suspects were arrested on August 16, 2025, following intelligence that allegedly exposed them to have possessed the sum of ₦26,463,000.00, which they kept inside a Toyota Corolla 2010 model, belonging to Shehu and packed within a hotel premises in Kaduna.
While Fatange upon arrest, identified himself as the director general of the campaign office of the PDP flag-bearer in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency by-election, which was held on the same August 16, 2025.
EFCC revealed that the sum was suspected to have been earmarked for vote buying in the said election.