EFCC arraigns NGO founder over N950m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, February 24, arraigned one Usman Abubakar alongside his foundation, Young Alhaji Foundation, before a special offences court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos state, over N950 million fraud.

Abubakar, who was brought before Justice Mojisola Dada, is facing five counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing and attempt to steal and obtain by false pretence preferred against him by the EFCC.

The EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the defendant and one Abu Fawzi, who is still at large, conspired to commit the alleged fraud.

Bilikisu said that the incident happened sometime between September 19 and 20, 2022.

The prosecutor noted that the defendant allegedly conspired to steal the sum of N950 million from Ano Farms Limited, under the false pretence that he had the dollar equivalent of the said sum for exchange.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Abubakar and Young Alhaji Foundation on September 20, 2022, attempted to divert the sum of N180 million, property of Ano Farms Limited, to the use of one Abdullahi Mohammed.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Section 8(a) 1(1) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences act 2006, 411, 280, 287 (9)(c) 406(2), 280(1)(b) and 287 (9)(c) of the criminal law of Lagos state, 2011.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

Following the defendant’s plea, the prosecuting counsel, asked the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution to call its witnesses and tender relevant documents to prove the case against the defendants.

Counsel for the defendant, Olatubosun Olanipekun (SAN), however, informed the court that the defence “only got to know of the date for arraignment on Tuesday, February 21.”

He, however, pleaded with the court to remand the defendant at the EFCC custody pending the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

An attempt to make an oral application for bail was dismissed by the court as the trial judge held that, “this court is a court of records.”

The bail application was thereafter served on the prosecution in open court.

Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case till March 1, for a hearing of the bail application.

He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of his bail application.