Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Managing Director of Abu‑Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited, Musa Farouk Abubakar; his company; and Sandra Chizoba Attoh before a Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing them of a N691.6 million fraud and money‑laundering scheme.
The three defendants were brought before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. They pleaded not guilty to an amended 15‑count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit fraud, corruption and money laundering involving N691,677,310 (six hundred and ninety‑one million, six hundred and seventy‑seven thousand, three hundred and ten naira).
According to the EFCC, the case centres on a series of electronic transfers executed in July 2025. Count 10 of the charge alleges that on 21 July 2025, Abubakar, acting as the managing director of Abu‑Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, transferred N297,000,000 from the company’s Zenith Bank account (No. 1313378899) to Attoh’s Access Bank account (No. 0108910277). The prosecution claims that Abubakar “reasonably ought to have known” that the money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act relating to corruption – a violation of Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
Count 11 further alleges that Abubakar later procured Attoh to transfer N262,866,310 from her Access Bank account to an account of Mshell Homes Ltd with Taj Bank Ltd (account No. 0003457246) for the purchase of a property at Kapital Villa, Guzape, Abuja. The prosecution again asserts that Abubakar ought reasonably to have known that this sum also represented proceeds of corruption.
Following the not‑guilty pleas, the prosecutor, Rita Ogar, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
Ishaka M. Dikko, counsel for the first and second defendants (Abubakar and his company), informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on 19 May 2026 on behalf of the oil magnate. He urged the court to remand his client in EFCC custody while the bail application was being considered.
Y. G. Haruna (SAN), counsel for the third defendant (Sandra Chizoba Attoh), also told the court that he had filed a bail application for his client on 1 June 2026.
Opposing the bail applications, prosecution counsel Ogar maintained that the commission possessed “overwhelming evidence” against the defendants. She noted that the prosecution had filed counter‑affidavits supported by documentary exhibits and urged the court to reject the bail requests.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Egwuatu ruled that Abubakar be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending his counsel’s response to the prosecution’s counter‑affidavit. However, the court granted Attoh bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum. The judge ordered that both sureties must be residents of Abuja and owners of landed property; additionally, one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15. The sureties are also required to submit passport photographs, valid means of identification, and the civil servant surety must present proof of appointment and promotion documents.
The case has been adjourned to 1 and 2 September 2026 for the commencement of trial. Both Abubakar and Attoh are expected to stand trial alongside the company, Abu‑Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, as the EFCC continues its pursuit of high‑profile financial crimes in the nation’s capital.
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