EFCC PROBES NEDC OFFICIALS FOR ALLEGED N2.2BN CONTRACT FRAUD

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By: Fasasi Hammad

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned the former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project at the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), Danjuma Mohammed, alongside Bondpay CEO Prince Chibuike Echem, and Aminu Alhaji (currently at large) over allegations of N2.2 billion contract fraud.

The defendants appeared before Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Zuba, Abuja. They face a 54-count amended charge involving conspiracy, advance fee fraud, false pretence, and forgery, relating to the sum of N2,280,000,000. The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 2022 and 2024.

According to the EFCC, the trio defrauded Diamond Leeds Limited, an indigenous construction and equipment supply company, by posing as contract facilitators with connections to key government agencies.

In the charge (CR/708/25), Mohammed and Echem are listed as the first and second defendants. Count One alleges that between May 2022 and February 2024 in Abuja, the defendants conspired with Alhaji (still at large) to obtain N2.28 billion from Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, through false pretences. The offence contravenes Section 8(a) and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Count Three states that between January 1 and December 31, 2023, the defendants, with intent to defraud, allegedly obtained N573.5 million from Diamond Leeds through a Wema Bank account under the false claim that they could award contracts from the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Program under NEDC. They knew the pretense to be false, an offence under the same Act.

When the charges were read, all three defendants pleaded not guilty. Following their plea, the prosecution counsel, Olarenwaju Adeola, requested that the court remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending trial.

The defence counsel, Chukwuka Obidike, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed, but the prosecution opposed its immediate hearing, stating they had only been served the previous evening and required time to file a counter-affidavit. The judge agreed, allowing the prosecution time to respond and remanding the defendants at the Suleja Correctional Centre, citing its proximity to the court. The bail application hearing was adjourned to March 25.

Investigations revealed that Echem allegedly introduced Diamond Leeds’ chairman, Kenneth Ifekudu, to Danjuma Mohammed, who was presented as a key power broker in the North. Despite the issuance of contract award letters, Diamond Leeds was reportedly prevented from mobilising engineers or equipment to project sites in the North-East, with Danjuma allegedly citing security concerns.

EFCC investigations also uncovered that all contract documents presented were forged, and a Guaranty Trust Bank account bearing the acronym NEDC was allegedly used to channel part of the funds under the guise of equipment payments. Additional fraudulent activities linked to Danjuma Mohammed eventually led to his removal from the NEDC.

Beth Igwilo (SAN), lead counsel for the complainant, said seven witnesses would be called during the trial.