The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project at the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Danjuma Mohammed, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of Bondpay, Prince Chibuike Echem, over alleged contract fraud amounting to N2.28 billion.
Also charged in the case is one Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Zuba, Abuja, on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud, and forgery.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed between 2022 and 2024 and involved the defrauding of an indigenous construction and equipment supply firm, Diamond Leeds Limited.
In the charge marked CR/708/25, Mohammed and Echem are listed as the first and second defendants respectively.
Count One alleges that between May 2022 and February 2024 in Abuja, the defendants conspired with Aminu Alhaji to fraudulently obtain the sum of N2.28 billion from the Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, Mr. Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
One of the counts further alleges that between January and December 2023, the defendants obtained an aggregate sum of N573.5 million from Ifekudu through a Wema Bank account belonging to Prince Chibuike Echem, under the false pretence that they had the authority to facilitate and award contracts under the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Programme of the NEDC—claims the EFCC said they knew to be false.
When the charges were read, both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel, Olarenwaju Adeola, requested that the court remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.
However, defence counsel, Chukwuka Obidike, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of the defendants.
The prosecution opposed the immediate hearing of the application, stating that it was only served with the bail documents the previous evening and required time to file a counter-affidavit.
In his ruling, Justice Ogbonnaya granted the prosecution’s request and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, citing its proximity to the court. The matter was adjourned to March 25 for the hearing of the bail applications.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the case originated in 2023 when Echem allegedly introduced the Chairman of Diamond Leeds Limited, Kenneth Ifekudu, to Danjuma Mohammed, who was presented as a highly influential figure capable of facilitating lucrative contracts in the North-East.
Although Diamond Leeds was reportedly issued contract award letters, the company was allegedly never allowed to mobilise personnel or equipment to project sites, with Mohammed reportedly citing insecurity in the region as justification.
Speaking after the court session, lead counsel for the nominal complainant, Beth Igwilo (SAN), disclosed that the prosecution intends to call seven witnesses.
Diamond Leeds further alleged that all contract documents presented for execution were forged and expressed disappointment that Echem—despite benefiting from the company’s goodwill—allegedly conspired with others to defraud it.
The EFCC also disclosed that the alleged syndicate opened a Guaranty Trust Bank account bearing the acronym “NEDC,” through which part of the funds was returned to Diamond Leeds under the pretext of payment for supplied equipment.
Further investigations reportedly uncovered additional fraudulent activities linked to Danjuma Mohammed, which ultimately led to his removal from the NEDC.
