Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, arraigned a former senior official of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and two associates before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Zuba, Abuja, on a 54-count amended charge of conspiracy, false pretence and forgery involving the alleged misappropriation of N2.28 billion.
The defendants are Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) under the NEDC; Prince Chibuike Echem; and Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large. They were arraigned before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya on charges brought by the EFCC, which accused them of obtaining money under false pretences and engaging in acts contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Prosecution counsel Adeola Olarenwaju informed the court that the EFCC initially filed a charge on December 3, 2025, and on January 22, 2026, sought to substitute it with a more detailed 54-count amended charge, supported by a proof of evidence. The court granted the prosecution’s request to adopt the amended charge and proceed with arraignment.
According to the indictment, count one of the charge alleges that between May 2022 and February 2024, the defendants conspired to obtain N2.28 billion from Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, and his company, by false pretences. The prosecution argued that the defendants falsely represented that they had the authority and capacity to award and execute contracts under the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Program (NERSP) of the NEDC, a representation they knew to be untrue.
Count three further details that sometime within the 2023 calendar year, the defendants, acting with intent to defraud, obtained N573.5 million from Ifekudu through a Wema Bank account belonging to Prince Chibuike Echem. The funds were allegedly acquired under the pretense that the defendants would facilitate contract awards and execution for Ifekudu’s companies under the NERSP, claims the prosecution said were fraudulent and contravened Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act.
When the amended charges were read to them, all three defendants pleaded not guilty.
In response to the not-guilty pleas, counsel for the prosecution informed the court that the EFCC would require a trial date to commence the presentation of its case and sought that the principal defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.
Defence counsel Chukwuka Obidike drew the court’s attention to a bail application already filed on behalf of the defendants. The prosecution, however, indicated its intention to file a counter-affidavit opposing bail, noting that the defence motion was served only late the previous afternoon and had not yet been fully considered.
“My lord, it is true that the defence served us with their motion for bail,” prosecution counsel stated. “The motion for bail was only served to us yesterday at about 4:30pm which I was only opportune to see this morning and we have reasons to object to this application. I pray the court for an opportunity to reply to it.”
Justice Ogbonnaya, weighing submissions from both sides, granted the prosecution’s request to file a reply to the bail motion, but ultimately ordered that the defendants — including Danjuma Mohammed — be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending further proceedings. The judge emphasised that the decision was taken in the interest of justice after considering all relevant factors.
The matter was adjourned to March 25, 2026, for trial, marking the next significant procedural step in the prosecution of the case.
Legal observers note that the charges brought by the EFCC were framed under Nigeria’s anti-fraud legislation, which carries substantial penalties upon conviction. If proven, the allegations of conspiracy and false pretence in the misappropriation of public funds could lead to lengthy imprisonment and financial forfeiture for the accused.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies to pursue high-profile graft cases involving public officials and large sums of money. It also underscores the procedural rigor of the Nigerian judicial system in balancing prosecutorial demands with due process rights, such as bail considerations.
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