EFCC arraigns man over N56m pilgrimage fraud

The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a man, Lawal Musa, for alleged pilgrimage fraud to the tune of N56.4 million.

According to a statement posted by the EFCC on its official X account on Friday, Musa was arraigned on Thursday before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Musa was said to have approached one Ibrahim Shuaibu under the pretext that he worked for the Kaduna State Government and could help facilitate the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.

This made Shuaibu inform some of his friends: Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and Usman Haruna.

His friends, who were into the business of cattle breeding and rearing within the Oke-Ogun area of Ibadan, Oyo State, reportedly cumulatively paid the sum of N56,491,000 to Shuaibu, who, in turn, transferred the money to the defendant to facilitate the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.

“However, no one among the victims was able to attend the Saudi Arabia Hajj pilgrimage of 2023 due to the fraudulent refusal of Musa to fulfil his promise,” the statement added.

The statement said the defendant was arraigned on a 57-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering of documents and stealing.

“Count one of the charges reads, ‘That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or between 2nd November, 2022 to 22nd July, 2024 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, converted to your own personal use, total sum of N56, 491, 000.00 from Ibrahim Shuaibu the sums meant for Hajj pilgrimage through Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency for Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and Usman Haruna and thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.’

“Count two reads, ‘That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or about 10th day of November, 2023 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, forged a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Receipt Number: 0013041 in the name of Jibril Adamu with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence of Forgery of document contrary to Section 465 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.’

“Another count of the charges reads, ‘That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or about 2nd of February, 2024 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, uttered a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Receipt with Receipt Number: 012654 to one Jibril Adamu with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence of uttering of document contrary to Section 468 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State. 2000.’”

According to the EFCC, the defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the counts when they were read to him.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen, prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in a correctional centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Kehinde Adegbola, informed the court that he had filed a motion, praying the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.

Justice Adetujoye thereafter adjourned the matter till August 17, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and remanded the defendant in Agodi Correctional Centre.