The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Lawal Musa before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court on a 57-count charge bordering on stealing, forgery, and uttering of documents involving an alleged N56.4 million pilgrimage fraud.
According to the EFCC statement, Musa falsely presented himself as an official of the Kaduna State Government capable of securing slots for the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.
Relying on his claims, a victim named Ibrahim Shuaibu mobilized a total of N56,491,000 from ten cattle breeders in the Oke-Ogun area of Ibadan and transferred the funds to the defendant.
However, none of the victims were able to perform the pilgrimage due to Musa's fraudulent failure to fulfill the agreement.
The prosecution alleges that Musa converted the funds to personal use and forged Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipts to deceive the victims.
Musa pleaded not guilty to all counts. Defence counsel Kehinde Adegbola filed an application seeking bail on liberal terms, while prosecution counsel Bashir Shamsuddeen requested a trial date and remand.
Justice Adetujoye remanded the defendant at the Agodi Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to August 17, 2026, for a hearing on the bail application.
"That you, Lawal Babale Musa 'M' on or between 2nd November, 2022 to 22nd July, 2024 at Ibadan... converted to your own personal use, total sum of N56,491,000.00... meant for Hajj pilgrimage." — EFCC Charge Sheet
#EFCC #HajjFraud #FinancialCrime #Ibadan #OyoStateHighCourt #Justice #NigeriaNews
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