The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Lawal Musa before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over an alleged N56.4 million fraud linked to payments for the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage. The defendant was brought before Justice Olusola Adetujoye on Thursday, facing 57 charges that include stealing by conversion, forgery, and uttering of documents.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
According to a statement issued on Friday by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Musa allegedly collected N56.5 million from Ibrahim Shuaibu, who paid on behalf of 10 individuals for the 2023 Hajj. The defendant reportedly claimed to be an employee of the Kaduna State Government and promised to facilitate their participation in the pilgrimage.
The prosecution alleged that the money was meant for Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa, and Usman Haruna. The EFCC said the alleged victims are cattle breeders and rearers operating in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.
Forgery and Court Proceedings
The commission also accused Mr Musa of forging Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipts and presenting them as genuine. One of the counts stated that the defendant “forged a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Receipt Number: 0013041 in the name of Jibril Adamu with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence of Forgery of document contrary to Section 465 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Mr Musa pleaded not guilty to all charges read to him before Justice Adetujoye. Following his plea, EFCC counsel Bashir Shamsudeen asked the court to set a date for trial and remand the defendant in a correctional facility. Defence counsel Kehinde Adegbola, however, informed the court that he had filed a bail application seeking the release of his client on liberal terms.
Adjournment and Remand
Justice Adetujoye adjourned the case until 17 August for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Mr Musa be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan. The EFCC said the case began when Mr Musa allegedly approached Mr Shuaibu and claimed to be a Kaduna State Government employee who could arrange participation in the 2023 Hajj.
Mr Shuaibu subsequently informed the 10 cattle breeders, and according to the commission, the alleged victims collectively paid about N56.5 million to him. The money was then transferred to Mr Musa for the purpose of arranging their pilgrimage. However, the commission said that none of the 10 people travelled to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj because Mr Musa failed to fulfil his promise. The case continues with the bail hearing scheduled for 17 August.
