EFCC Drags Two to Court Over Alleged $180,000 Fraud in Abuja

By Joseph Sunday 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through its Abuja Zonal Directorate, on Monday arraigned Shamsudeen Lawal and Abubakar Abdulkadir before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Nyanya, Abuja.

The duo face a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence involving $180,000. 

According to the EFCC, the defendants, alongside another suspect still at large, allegedly conspired in 2024 to divert $180,000 paid by Data Group for the purchase of equipment meant to service MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. Instead of using the funds as agreed, they allegedly sent the money to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed in Uganda for a different purpose. 

Count one alleges criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990. Count two alleges criminal breach of trust contrary to Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecution counsel Mariya U. Shariff requested a date for trial to begin. Defence counsel J.U. Bolori moved for bail, which the prosecution did not oppose. 

Justice Shafa granted each defendant bail set at N1,000,000 with two sureties. One surety must be a businessman with verifiable means of livelihood and must depose to an affidavit on the bail bond.

The case was adjourned to September 29, 2026, for trial commencement.

The statement was issued by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity, EFCC, on June 22, 2026.