The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Danjuma Mohammed, alongside Chibuike Echem and Aminu Alhaji (now at large), over an alleged ₦2.28 billion fraud.
The suspects were arraigned on Tuesday before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya of Federal High Court in Zuba, Abuja on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and forgery.
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At the proceedings, prosecution counsel Adeola Olanrewaju informed the court that the original charge filed on December 3, 2025 had been amended and sought the court’s leave to substitute it with the 54-count charge dated January 22, 2026, relying on the proof of evidence attached. The court granted the application.
According to count one, the defendants allegedly conspired between May 2022 and February 2024 in Abuja to fraudulently obtain ₦2.28 billion from Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, under false pretenses.
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count three further alleged that the defendants, between January and December 2023, fraudulently obtained an aggregate sum of ₦573.5 million from Ifekudu through a Wema Bank account belonging to Prince Chibuike Echem, under the false pretence that they had the capacity to award and execute contracts under the North East Recovery and Stability Programme (NERSP) of the NEDC.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following the plea, Olanrewaju requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in custody pending the determination of the case.
However, defence counsel Chukwuka Obidike informed the court that an application for bail had been filed.
Responding, the prosecution said it had not had sufficient time to respond to the bail application and sought leave to file a counter-affidavit.
“My Lord, the motion for bail was served on us only yesterday at about 4:30 p.m., and we have reasons to oppose it. We pray the court for time to respond,” Olanrewaju said.
In his ruling, Justice Ogbonnaya held that, in the interest of justice, the prosecution should be allowed to respond to the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending trial.
The case was adjourned to March 25, 2026, for trial.
