N131.8m, $200.000 Fraud: EFCC arraigns ICT Consultant

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC) has arraigned an Information and Communication Technology, ICT, consultant, Umar Abdullahi, before the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over alleged fraud involving N131.8 million and $200,000.

Abdullahi, brought before Justice Emeka Nwite on Monday, August 18, 2025, by the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate, is facing a four-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud, popularly known as ‘419’ and money laundering.

According to the charge, Abdullahi was accused of fraudulently obtaining N104.98 million from Aura Integrated Energy Resources Limited in June 2024 under the false pretence that the funds were for the procurement of telecommunications equipment and logistics for officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

In the second charge, he, Abdullahi, allegedly accepted a cash payment of $200,000 for the allotment of shares in Multi Access Controls Limited, in violation of the Money Laundering, Prevention and Prohibition, Act, 2022, which mandates that transactions above N10 million must pass through a financial institution.

The EFCC further alleged that Abdullahi never carried out the contract, knowing the claims to be false.

When the charges were read to him in court, Abdullahi pleaded not guilty, while prosecution counsel, Cosmas Ugwu, urged the court to remand him in a correctional facility, citing that the defendant had previously jumped administrative bail granted by the Commission.

The Defence counsel, A.O. Agbonlahor, however, prayed the court to allow him remain in EFCC custody instead.

In his ruling on the submissions, Justice Nwite ordered that Abdullahi be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, and adjourned the case to September 8, 2025, for commencement of trial.

The case stemmed from a petition filed by businessman, Alhaji Shehu Badamosi, who alleged that Abdullahi deceived him into believing he had secured a contract with the NCC and needed financing worth N131.8 million and $200,000 for its execution.

According to the petitioner, “after receiving the funds, the defendant became unreachable and made no effort to refund the money.”

The EFCC, vowed to pursue the case to its logical conclusion in line with its mandate to rid Nigeria of economic and financial crimes.