Exhibit tampering probe ordered as judge directs DSS, police to investigate registrar over deleted WhatsApp chats in ₦10bn fraud case

Justice J. K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday ordered the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the court Registrar, Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu, and the second defendant, Dauda Sulaiman, over alleged tampering with court Exhibits N and O in an ongoing ₦10 billion fraud trial.

Also read: Court Victory Boost as Judge Orders EFCC to Release Seized Homes

Justice Omotosho told the court that the Registrar had confessed that Sulaiman approached him with a request to use a code to delete significant WhatsApp messages contained in a mobile phone earlier deposited with the court as evidence.

The judge played the Registrar’s recorded confession in open court and directed him to recount what transpired between him and the defendant.

Justice Omotosho said the disclosure was in line with the Federal High Court’s policy on early discovery and transparency in judicial proceedings.

According to Zubairu, Sulaiman asked what he needed and he mentioned accommodation challenges. The Registrar said he was then asked to delete certain WhatsApp messages from the exhibits with a promise that he would be given a house in return.

Justice Omotosho also directed the Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, to request the investigation officer, Muhammed Audu Abubakar, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to verify whether chats had indeed been deleted from the device.

Abubakar confirmed to the court that information contained in Exhibits N and O, including chats from several dates between 2020 and 2022, had been deleted.

When asked to identify the specific chats he deleted, Zubairu told the court he could not recall the exact messages but admitted opening two chats. Further examination of the exhibit showed gaps in conversations, including missing chats between December 23 and December 28, 2020.

Zubairu also confirmed that on January 13, 2021, a chat entry in the exhibit read, “Abdurasheed will bring it to Abuja now.”

Also read: Anietie Udoh Named Judge for 2025 Digital Media Awards

The judge’s directive for a security investigation marks a dramatic development in the fraud trial, as authorities move to determine the extent of alleged interference with court evidence.