The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, arraigned a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, alongside Prince Chibuike Echem, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Zuba, Abuja, over an alleged ₦2.28 billion fraud.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and forgery. A third defendant, Aminu Alhaji, was said to be at large.
At the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Adeola Olanrewaju, informed the court that the original charge filed on December 3, 2025 had been amended and sought its substitution with the 54-count amended charge dated January 22, 2026. The application was granted by the court.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired between May 2022 and February 2024 to fraudulently obtain the cumulative sum of ₦2.28 billion from Mr. Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, under false pretences. The alleged offence was said to contravene Sections 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
One of the charges further alleged that the defendants, between January and December 2023, obtained an aggregate sum of ₦573.5 million from the same complainant through a Wema Bank account belonging to Prince Echem, by falsely claiming they had the authority to award and execute contracts under the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Programme (NERSP) of the NEDC.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in open court.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in custody pending the determination of the case. However, defence counsel, Chukwuka Obidike, drew the court’s attention to a bail application already filed on behalf of the defendants.
Responding, the prosecution disclosed its intention to file a counter-affidavit in opposition, noting that the bail application was served late and was not ripe for hearing. Justice Ogbonnaya, in his ruling, granted the prosecution time to respond and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending trial.
The case was adjourned to March 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
