By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited, Musa Farouk Abubakar, alongside his company and Sandra Chizoba Attoh, over an alleged N691.7 million fraud, corruption and money laundering scheme.
In an official signed statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency disclosed that the defendants were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on an amended 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, corruption and money laundering involving N691,677,310.
According to the EFCC, the charges stem from alleged financial transactions suspected to be linked to proceeds of unlawful activities. One of the counts alleged that Musa Abubakar, as Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited, transferred N297 million from the company’s account with Zenith Bank to an account belonging to Sandra Chizoba Attoh in July 2025, despite allegedly having reasonable grounds to suspect that the funds were proceeds of corruption.
The Commission further alleged that Abubakar subsequently procured Attoh to transfer N262.87 million from her account to the account of Mshell Homes Limited with Taj Bank for the purchase of a property at Kapital Villa, Guzape, Abuja, using funds believed to have originated from unlawful activities.
When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Rita Ogar, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Ishaka M. Dikko, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of Musa Abubakar on May 19, 2026, and requested that his client be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the application.
Similarly, counsel to the third defendant, Y. G. Haruna, SAN, told the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of Sandra Chizoba Attoh on June 1, 2026, and had received the prosecution’s counter-affidavit a day later.
Opposing the applications, the prosecution argued that it possessed substantial evidence to support the charges and urged the court to reject the requests for bail. The prosecution also informed the court that it had filed counter-affidavits supported by documentary exhibits and a written address outlining its objections.
After listening to submissions from both parties, Justice Egwuatu ordered that Musa Abubakar be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the filing of a response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit by his counsel.
The court, however, granted bail to Sandra Chizoba Attoh in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum. The judge ruled that the sureties must be Abuja residents, provide passport photographs and valid means of identification, and own landed property. One of the sureties must also be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and deposit proof of appointment and latest promotion with the court.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until September 1 and 2, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
