The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project of the North-East Development Commission, Danjuma Mohammed, and the Chief Executive Officer of Bondpay, Prince Chibuike Echem, over an alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud.
The defendants were brought before Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Zuba, Abuja. A third suspect, Aminu Alhaji, was named in the charge but is currently at large.
According to the EFCC, the defendants are facing a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud and forgery. The alleged offences were said to have been committed between 2022 and 2024.
The commission alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained a total of N2.28 billion from Diamond Leeds Limited, an indigenous construction and equipment supply company, by falsely presenting themselves as contract facilitators with the capacity to secure and execute projects under the North-East Development Commission.
One of the counts alleged that between May 2022 and February 2024, the defendants conspired to obtain the sum from the Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, under the false pretence that they could influence the award of contracts under the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Programme of the NEDC.
Another count alleged that N573.5 million was paid into a Wema Bank account belonging to Echem during 2023, based on the same alleged misrepresentation.
When the charge was read, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following their plea, the prosecution counsel applied for the defendants to be remanded in custody pending the determination of the case. Defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had already been filed on behalf of the defendants.
The prosecution opposed an immediate hearing of the bail applications, stating that it had only been served shortly before the court session and required time to respond. Justice Ogbonnaya granted the request and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, citing its proximity to the court.
The judge adjourned the matter to March 25 for the hearing of the bail applications.
EFCC investigations further revealed that although Diamond Leeds Limited was allegedly issued contract award letters, the company was never allowed to mobilise personnel or equipment to project sites. The commission claimed that insecurity in the North-East was cited as the reason for the delay.
The EFCC also alleged that several contract documents presented to the complainant were forged and that a bank account bearing the acronym “NEDC” was opened and used to channel part of the funds, some of which were later returned under the guise of payment for supplied equipment.
The anti-graft agency said further findings from its investigations led to Mohammed’s removal from the North-East Development Commission. Counsel to the nominal complainant disclosed that seven witnesses are expected to testify during the trial.
