Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Maiduguri Zonal Directorate, has arraigned three officials of a non-governmental organisation, Complete Care and Aid Foundation, before a Federal High Court in Borno State for allegedly obtaining N42 million from a company under false pretences. The defendants — Aisha Alkali Wakil, Sa'idu Tahiru Daura, and Prince Lawal Shoyede — were brought before Justice Jude K. Dagat on Thursday, May 21, 2026, on a two-count amended charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence. While Wakil and Shoyede pleaded not guilty, Daura entered a guilty plea, prompting the prosecution to request an adjournment for the commencement of trial against the two and sentencing for the third.
According to the charge sheet, the three defendants were at the material time the Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager, and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organisation operating in Maiduguri. The alleged offence occurred sometime in 2018, when they dishonestly induced one ABAKS VENTURES NIGERIA LIMITED to deliver the sum of N42,000,000 (Forty Two Million Naira) to them. The money, the prosecution stated, was meant for the completion of a purported sub-leased contract awarded to one Sani M. Adamu of MD SANI SMART GLOBAL VENTURES by the NGO. The EFCC alleged that the defendants knew the representation to be false and that no such legitimate contract existed.
Count two of the amended charge, as read in court, stated: “That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Sa'idu Tahiru Daura and Prince Lawan Shoyede, whilst being Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (Non-Governmental Organization), sometime in the year 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly induced one ABAKS VENTURES NIGERIA LIMITED to deliver to you the sum of N42,000,000.00 (Forty Two Million Naira) only, money meant for completion of a purported sub-leased contract awarded to one Sani M. Adamu (MD SANI SMART GLOBAL VENTURES) by the said Non-Governmental Organisation, which fact you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Following the arraignment, prosecution counsel N.T. Iko informed the court that while Wakil and Shoyede had pleaded not guilty, Daura had admitted his guilt. Iko therefore prayed the court to sentence Daura accordingly and sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution to commence trial against the two other defendants. Defence counsel did not oppose the application.
Justice Dagat adjourned the matter to June 25, 2026, for the sentencing of Sa'idu Tahiru Daura and for the commencement of trial of Aisha Alkali Wakil and Prince Lawal Shoyede. The judge ordered that all three defendants be remanded in the Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Facility pending the next hearing date. No bail applications were reported in the court proceedings.
The case stems from a petition filed by ABAKS VENTURES NIGERIA LIMITED, which alleged that the NGO officials collected the sum of N42 million under the guise of completing a sub-leased contract that turned out to be fictitious. The petitioners claimed that after the money was transferred, the defendants failed to execute any contract or render accounts, and subsequently became uncommunicative. The EFCC’s investigation, which began in 2019 but was delayed by the insurgency and the COVID-19 pandemic, gathered bank statements, sworn affidavits, and testimonies from witnesses. The Commission eventually established a prima facie case of obtaining money under false pretence, leading to the filing of the amended charge.
The case has drawn attention to the operations of non-governmental organisations in conflict‑affected regions, where weak oversight can create opportunities for financial misconduct. Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has been the epicentre of a decade‑long insurgency, and many NGOs have received substantial funding for humanitarian and development projects. This case, however, involves an alleged private contract fraud rather than diversion of donor funds, and the EFCC has not suggested any link to terrorism financing or international aid.
As of the time of this report, the EFCC has not disclosed whether any of the recovered funds have been traced or whether additional suspects are under investigation. The commission reiterated its commitment to prosecuting advance fee fraud and other financial crimes, regardless of the status or profession of the accused. The adjournment to June 25 means that the full details of the alleged fraud will only emerge during the trial. For now, the three former NGO officials remain in the custody of the Maiduguri Correctional Facility, awaiting their day in court.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments