EFCC Charges Four Individuals Over Alleged ₦50 Million Fraud In Borno State

EFCC Takes Action Against Fraud Suspects in Maiduguri

Alright, here's the scoop. Last Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) didn’t mess around. They dragged four individuals before Justice Muhammad Maina at the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri. What’s the deal? Allegations of a staggering ₦50 million fraud. That’s not pocket change, folks.

Now, let me break it down for you. In a statement that dropped on Saturday via X, the EFCC named the four defendants: Mohammed Nuhu, Babagana Maru, Ahmadu Sale, and Alhaji Mala Gana. Each one is facing separate charges of criminal misappropriation and breach of trust, adding up to a grand total of ₦50,030,000. That’s right—fifty million and change.

Mohammed Nuhu: The Alleged Misappropriation

Let’s talk about Nuhu for a moment. According to the charges, this guy, along with Kolomi Global Link Nigeria Limited, allegedly took ₦18,900,000 that didn’t belong to him. The money was supposed to be for Mohammad Baba Shettima. This all went down back in September 2022, right there in Maiduguri, Borno State. But here’s the kicker—it was money provided by the non-governmental organization Action Against Hunger. Yeah, you heard that right. Not exactly the kind of organization you want to rip off.

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Now, the EFCC isn’t playing games. They’re saying this kind of behavior violates Sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State (Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994). And trust me, those sections don’t mess around when it comes to punishment.

Babagana Maru: The Tricycle Scam

Then there’s Babagana Maru. His charge reads like a story straight out of a crime novel. Back in 2020, Maru was entrusted with a pretty penny—₦8,500,000 to be exact. This was from Imam Manu Dauda as an advance payment for the purchase of tricycles. But instead of using the money for its intended purpose, Maru allegedly took off with the entire sum. That’s right, folks, he’s accused of dishonestly misappropriating the funds. Section 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State has something to say about that, and so does Section 312 when it comes to punishment.

When the charges were read out in court, guess what all four defendants said? “Not guilty.” Yep, every single one of them pleaded not guilty. But the EFCC wasn’t backing down. Prosecuting attorneys S.O. Saka and Faruku Muhammad were all about pushing for trial dates and sending these defendants straight to a correctional facility.

The Bail Drama

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Maru’s attorney, Z.M. Umaru, stepped up and made an oral application for bail on behalf of his client. Justice Maina didn’t waste any time. He admitted Maru to bail in the sum of ₦10 million, but here’s the twist—Maru needs two sureties in the same amount. And get this—one of those sureties must either be a blood relative or a traditional title holder. Talk about specific requirements.

So, where does that leave us? Well, the cases were adjourned until April 26, 2025, for the trial to kick off. Until then, all the defendants are chilling at the Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Center. That’s the latest from Maiduguri, folks. Stay tuned for more updates.