The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, arraigned Captain Nuhu Haruna, Managing Director of Maphutha Oil & Gas Limited, before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on charges of foreign exchange fraud totaling ₦1.02 billion.
Haruna was docked on a two-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1(1)(b) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
According to the EFCC, Haruna allegedly obtained ₦782.3 million from one Alhaji Sheriff Zailani Shanono in December 2023, and another ₦125 million in January 2024, under the pretext of providing the dollar equivalent of the funds. The total amount involved stands at ₦1.02 billion.
The petitioner, Shanono, alleged that he transferred the funds into accounts provided by Haruna, who later furnished him with purported evidence of dollar payments into a foreign account — documents which were later discovered to be fake.
When the charges were read, Haruna pleaded “not guilty.” Prosecution counsel M.E. Eimonye requested a date for trial, while defence counsel M.T. Mohammed informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the defendant.
Justice Khobo adjourned the case to November 19, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
