Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
The CEO of Formal Act Legacy Limited, Dr. Bashir Bello Ibrahim, has been arraigned and remanded in Kaduna Correctional Centre as investigations continue into a massive contract scam worth billions of naira. The scam has left hundreds of contractors unpaid after working on development projects for the Kaduna State Government.
The case was brought before the Federal High Court in Kaduna by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Bello faces several charges, including obtaining money under false pretenses, fraud, and money laundering. One of the accusations is that he fraudulently collected N37.3 million from a subcontractor.
Justice A. M. Aikawa ordered Bello’s detention after he pleaded not guilty to all charges. The investigation into Bello’s activities started months ago after the Eagle Brain Human Rights Organization petitioned the EFCC, calling for a thorough probe into the allegations.
Investigators revealed that Bello is the subject of 251 complaints from victims both inside and outside Kaduna State. He allegedly pretended to be a “UN Intervention Northwest Coordinator” and claimed to have official agreements with the Kaduna State Government to carry out development projects.
Even after the Kaduna State Government ended its agreement with him in October 2023, Bello reportedly continued awarding contracts for hospital equipment, pharmaceuticals, and solar-powered boreholes, but failed to pay the subcontractors who executed these projects.
In response, the Kaduna State Government has started a verification process to identify genuine contractors affected by the scheme. Officials have assured Eagle Brain Human Rights Organization that verified contractors will receive their due payments.
Daniel Ejembi, CEO of Eagle Brain, praised the government’s efforts as a positive step toward easing the financial hardship faced by many families and businesses. He urged authorities to speed up the verification and payment process, emphasizing that many contractors borrowed heavily and are now facing financial ruin, with some businesses collapsing and families struggling to meet basic needs.
Eagle Brain called on all contractors who worked for the Kaduna State Government through Formal Act Legacy Limited from 2015 to 2025 to come forward for verification. Affected contractors are advised to visit the EFCC office in Kaduna with their contract documents and submit their details to the Kaduna State Ministry for Local Government Affairs.
The organization emphasized that these steps are crucial for ensuring contractors are included in the verification and payment process. They also pledged to continue monitoring the situation until all legitimate contractors are fully paid.
The case has been adjourned to December 2, 2025, as EFCC continues its investigation into what is believed to be one of the biggest contract fraud cases in Kaduna State’s recent history.
Eagle Brain reiterated its commitment to fighting corruption and promised to keep the public updated on new developments.
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