The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project under the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Danjuma Mohammed, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of Bondpay, Prince Chibuike Echem, over an alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud.
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.
According to the anti-graft agency, the trio is facing a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretence and forgery.
The EFCC alleged that the offences involved a total sum of N2,280,000,000 and were committed between 2022 and 2024. The Commission told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired to defraud the Federal Government through the manipulation of contract documents and false representations connected to crisis recovery projects in the North-East.
When the charges were read to them, Mohammed and Echem pleaded not guilty to all counts. Following their plea, prosecution counsel urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the hearing of their bail applications.
However, defence counsel applied for bail on behalf of their clients, urging the court to exercise its discretion in their favour.
Justice Ogbonnaya subsequently adjourned the matter to a later date for ruling on the bail applications and commencement of trial, while ordering that the defendants be remanded in custody.
