Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday, February 9, 2026, arraigned Gidado Ibrahim before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over his alleged involvement in a high-value employment scam amounting to N603.4 million. The anti-graft agency also listed Halimat Adenike Tejusho as a co-defendant in the case, although she remains at large. The defendants were brought before Justice H. Muazu on an amended six-count charge bordering on fraud, obtaining money under false pretence, and forgery.
According to court filings presented by the EFCC, Ibrahim and Tejusho allegedly obtained the sum of N603,400,000 from a complainant, Oluseye Yomi-Sholoye, between August and October 2024. Prosecutors told the court that the accused persons falsely represented that they could facilitate her appointment as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, now known as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. The EFCC contends that the claim was entirely fraudulent and that the defendants were fully aware that the representation was false at the time the funds were obtained.
During Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Y. Tarfa informed the court that an amended six-count charge had been filed and sought permission for the defendant to enter his plea. Justice Muazu granted the request, and the charges were read out in open court. On the first count, the prosecution alleged that Ibrahim and Tejusho conspired to obtain the N603.4 million under false pretence, an offence said to contravene Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The second count specifically accused Ibrahim of using as genuine a forged document purportedly titled “Presidential Villa State House, Office of the National Security Adviser.” Prosecutors alleged that the defendant knew or had reason to believe the document was forged but nonetheless presented it to reinforce the alleged scheme. This count was said to be contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 364 of the same law. Details of the remaining counts were not extensively canvassed in open court, but they form part of the broader allegation that the defendants orchestrated a coordinated fraud involving misrepresentation and fabricated official documents.
When the charges were read, Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to all six counts. Following his plea, Tarfa requested that the court fix a date for trial and order the defendant’s remand in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings. The prosecution maintained that the seriousness of the charges and the scale of the alleged fraud warranted custodial remand.
Counsel for the defendant, B. B. Alhaji, acknowledged filing an application for bail but informed the court that the motion was not yet ripe for hearing. He appealed to the judge to consider remanding his client in the custody of the EFCC rather than a correctional centre, citing health concerns. According to the defence, the defendant’s medical condition required attention and monitoring, and continued detention in EFCC custody would better accommodate those needs while awaiting determination of the bail application.
Justice Muazu, after hearing both sides, adjourned the matter to February 17, 2026, for hearing and ruling on the bail application. The court ordered that Ibrahim be remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility pending further proceedings.
The case has drawn public interest because of the high profile of the position allegedly used as bait in the purported scam. The office of the Group Managing Director of NNPC Limited is one of the most powerful executive roles in Nigeria’s energy sector, overseeing operations in the country’s critical oil and gas industry. Allegations that individuals could falsely claim influence over such an appointment underscore ongoing concerns about the exploitation of public offices and the misuse of institutional names to perpetrate fraud.
Advance fee fraud, commonly known in Nigeria as “419,” remains one of the offences most frequently prosecuted by the EFCC. Established in 2003, the commission has consistently pursued cases involving fraudulent representations, forged government documents, and large-scale financial deception. The agency maintains that such offences not only inflict financial harm on victims but also damage Nigeria’s international reputation and undermine trust in public institutions.
Legal analysts note that in cases involving alleged employment or appointment scams, prosecutors typically seek to demonstrate a clear chain of misrepresentation, financial transfer, and intent to defraud. The presentation of forged documents purporting to originate from high-level government offices can significantly strengthen the prosecution’s case if proven authentic as forgeries. However, the burden remains on the EFCC to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the accused knowingly participated in the deception and benefited from it.
The arraignment marks only the beginning of what could become a protracted legal process. With one of the defendants still at large, proceedings may involve further investigative steps, including efforts to apprehend Tejusho and present her before the court. The EFCC has not publicly disclosed details of ongoing efforts to secure her arrest, but standard procedure in such cases includes surveillance, collaboration with other security agencies, and possible international alerts if required.
For now, attention turns to the scheduled February 17 hearing, where the court will consider arguments relating to bail. Nigerian courts generally weigh factors such as the severity of the alleged offence, the likelihood of the defendant standing trial, and the risk of interference with witnesses or evidence. Should bail be granted, conditions may include financial guarantees, sureties, or travel restrictions.
As the case unfolds, it is likely to test the evidentiary strength of the prosecution’s claims and the defence’s counter-arguments. The proceedings will also serve as another indicator of Nigeria’s broader anti-corruption drive and the judiciary’s role in adjudicating complex financial crimes involving substantial sums and alleged misuse of official authority.
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