The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a man, Lawal Musa, over an alleged ₦56.4 million fraud involving arrangements for the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.
Musa was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on charges bordering on stealing by conversion, forgery and uttering of documents. The EFCC said the alleged offences involved money collected from intending pilgrims who were seeking to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj.
According to the commission, Musa allegedly approached Ibrahim Shuaibu and claimed to be an employee of the Kaduna State Government who could facilitate the participation of pilgrims in the 2023 Hajj exercise.
Shuaibu subsequently informed 10 cattle breeders about the opportunity, after which they allegedly contributed a total of about ₦56.5 million for their pilgrimage. The money was reportedly transferred to Musa for the purpose of arranging their Hajj participation.
The EFCC alleged that Musa, instead of using the funds for the intended purpose, obtained the money under false pretences and subsequently failed to fulfil the arrangement.
The commission also accused him of allegedly forging receipts purportedly issued by the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency and presenting them as genuine documents. One of the charges reportedly concerns a receipt issued in the name of one of the intending pilgrims.
The 10 individuals whose pilgrimage arrangements were allegedly affected were identified as Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and Usman Haruna.
Musa reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel Bashir Shamsudeen asked the court to remand the defendant in custody and set a date for trial. The case was subsequently adjourned for further proceedings.
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