Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
Kaduna, November 5, 2025 — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, on Wednesday arraigned Captain Nuhu Haruna, Managing Director of Maphutha Oil & Gas Limited, before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court over an alleged foreign exchange fraud involving ₦1.02 billion.
Haruna was docked on a two-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and obtaining money under false pretence, offences contrary to Section 1(1)(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
According to the charge sheet, Haruna allegedly defrauded Alhaji Sheriff Zailani Shanono of ₦782,300,000 in December 2023 and another ₦125,000,000 in January 2024 under the pretext of providing their dollar equivalents.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Nuhu Haruna (M) with NIN 45666600264, while being the Managing Director of Maphutha Oil & Gas Limited, sometime in December, 2023, obtained the total sum of ₦782,300,000 from one Alhaji Sheriff Zailani Shanono, claiming to be capable of providing the equivalent in United States Dollars and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Haruna pleaded “not guilty” to all charges.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, M.E. Eimonye, requested the court to set a date for trial, while defence counsel, M.T. Mohammed, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed.
After hearing both sides, Justice Darius Khobo adjourned the matter to November 19, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
According to the EFCC, Haruna’s arrest followed a petition by Shanono, who alleged that the defendant deceived him into transferring ₦1.02 billion with a promise to convert it into U.S. dollars in two tranches — $600,000 and $400,000 — payable into a foreign bank account.
The petitioner claimed that after transferring the funds, Haruna provided what turned out to be forged proof of payment for the supposed dollar transfers. The dollars never reflected in his account, prompting him to petition the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC said investigations revealed that Haruna had no capacity or intention to fulfill the forex transaction, confirming the case as a classic example of advance fee fraud.
If convicted, Haruna faces several years of imprisonment without the option of a fine under Nigeria’s anti-fraud laws.
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