By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an Information and Communication Technology consultant, Umar Abdullahi, before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged N131.8 million and $200,000 fraud.
Abdullahi was brought before Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday, 18 August 2025, by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud and money laundering.
According to a statement issued by the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, one of the counts alleges that Abdullahi accepted and transacted a $200,000 cash payment for the allotment of shares in Multi Access Controls Limited without channeling the transaction through a financial institution, contrary to Section 2(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
He is also accused of fraudulently obtaining the sum of N104,980,000 from Aura Integrated Energy Resources Limited under the pretext that the money would be used to procure telecommunications equipment and logistics for staff of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Abdullahi pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Cosmas Ugwu, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility, stressing that he had earlier violated the terms of an administrative bail granted by the EFCC. However, defence counsel A.O. Agbonlahor pleaded with the court to remand him in EFCC custody.
Justice Nwite ordered that Abdullahi be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to 8 September 2025 for commencement of trial.
The EFCC stated that the prosecution followed a petition submitted by Alhaji Shehu Badamosi, who alleged that the defendant deceived him with a fake claim of securing a contract with the NCC and needed funding amounting to N131.8m and $200,000 for its execution. According to the petition, after receiving the funds, Abdullahi became unreachable and failed to repay the money.
