The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, June 22 arraigned Shamsudeen Lawal and Abubakar Abdulkadir before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Nyanya, Abuja, over $180,000 criminal breach of trust.
The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC’s Abuja Zonal Directorate on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants conspired in 2024 to divert $180,000 entrusted to them by Data Group for the purchase of equipment to service MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd. The commission claimed that the money was instead sent to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed, who is based in Uganda, for a purpose different from the one it was meant for.
The EFCC said the act contravenes Sections 96 and 97, as well as Sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja), 1990.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel, Mariya U. Shariff, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
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