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BREAKING: Court Grants N500million Bail To Former Warri Refinery MD

Former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), Jimoh Yisawu, has been granted bail in the sum of N500 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja following his arraignment on alleged money laundering charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Iyang Ekwo, who presided over the matter, admitted the former refinery boss to bail on strict conditions after he pleaded not guilty to an eight-count charge brought against him by the anti-graft agency.

Yisawu was brought before the court over allegations bordering on the unlawful handling and conversion of foreign currency transactions amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars during his time in office.

During the proceedings, the EFCC informed the court that the defendant allegedly engaged in transactions that contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

According to the charges, the commission alleged that between October 2023 and May 2025, Yisawu indirectly converted the sum of $789,950.

The anti-graft agency further accused him of making cash payments totalling the same amount without passing the transactions through a recognised financial institution as required by law.

The commission also alleged in another count that between February 2024 and March 2025, the former managing director indirectly converted an additional $122,600.

When the charges were read before the court, Yisawu denied all allegations and entered a not guilty plea.

Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC requested that the court fix a date for trial to enable the prosecution present its case.

However, the defence team immediately drew the court’s attention to a pending bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.