- Man Arraigned Over Alleged N56.4m Hajj Pilgrimage Fraud
- EFCC alleged that none of the victims travelled to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj because Musa allegedly failed to fulfil his promise
- Justice Adetujoye adjourned the case until August 17, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Lawal Babale Musa before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over an alleged N56.4 million fraud linked to the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Musa was arraigned on Thursday by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC before Justice Olusola Adetujoye on a 57-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion, forgery and uttering of documents.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Beyond the Glamour: The Hidden Price Celebrities Pay for Looking Perfect
- Hamzat Gives Condition for Reconstruction of Alaba Market Roads
- Lagos Must Prepare for Next Pandemic, Health Commissioner Warns
According to the EFCC, Musa allegedly approached Ibrahim Shuaibu, claiming to be an official of the Kaduna State Government who could facilitate the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency.
The commission said Shuaibu subsequently informed some of his friends, who were involved in cattle breeding and rearing in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, about the arrangement.
The friends, identified as Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and Usman Haruna, allegedly paid a combined N56,491,000 to Shuaibu, who then transferred the money to Musa.
The EFCC alleged that none of the victims travelled to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj because Musa allegedly failed to fulfil his promise.
One of the charges accused Musa of converting the N56,491,000 intended for the Hajj pilgrimage to his personal use, contrary to the Criminal Code Law of Oyo State.
Other counts accused him of allegedly forging Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipts and presenting them as genuine documents.
Musa pleaded not guilty to all 57 counts.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen, asked the court to set a date for trial and remand the defendant in a correctional centre.
Defence counsel, Kehinde Adegbola, informed the court that he had filed a bail application seeking the release of his client on liberal terms.
Justice Adetujoye adjourned the case until August 17, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Musa be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre pending the hearing.
FURTHER READING
- How Lagos Achieved 57.4% Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate
- Nigeria Has Joined WEC to Lead, Not Just Participate – Tinubu
- Alausa Reviews NESRI Progress, Sets Fresh Push for Outstanding Deliverables
Click here to watch video of the week
