Court to rule December 8 in alleged N2bn FIRS fraud case

The Federal High Court in Abuja will on December 8, 2025, in the trial of Emmanuella Eteta Ita, Head of the Stakeholders Unit at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and her company, Surestart School Limited, who are facing charges of alleged N2 billion fraud.

Giwa Ogunbanjo, Presiding Judge fixed the date after both parties adopted their final written addresses on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

Ita and her company were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 25-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation, diversion of funds, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving about N2 billion.

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During the proceedings, Ita’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the EFCC failed to prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

He referenced his final written address dated December 10, 2014, and a reply filed on June 13, 2025, adopting both as the defendant’s response to all issues raised by the prosecution.

Erokoro further asked the court to acquit his client and order the EFCC to refund N19.5 million allegedly recovered from Ita so she could repay her lenders.

However, prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, countered the defence’s argument, maintaining that the prosecution had established its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

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He pointed the court to the prosecution’s final written address filed and adopted on January 10 and June 16, 2025, respectively, urging the court to convict the defendants accordingly.

Iheanacho also objected to portions of the defence’s reply which, he argued, attempted to re-argue issues already canvassed in their main address.

According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC, after hearing both sides, Ogunbanjo adjourned the case until December 8, 2025, for judgment.