The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned the former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project of the North-East Development Commission, Danjuma Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of Bondpay, Prince Chibuike Echem, and one Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large, over an alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Zuba, Abuja.
They are standing trial on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, false pretence and forgery, involving the sum of N2,280,000.000.00.
The EFCC alleged that the offences were committed between 2022 and 2024.
According to the commission, the defendants allegedly defrauded an indigenous construction and equipment supply firm, Diamond Leeds Limited, by posing as contract facilitators with links to key government agencies.
In the charge marked CR/708/25, Mohammed and Echem are listed as the first and second defendants respectively.
Count One alleges that between May 2022 and February 2024 in Abuja, the defendants, alongside one Aminu Alhaji (still at large), conspired to obtain by false pretences the sum of N2,280,000,000 from Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count three of the charge reads; “That you Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed being the National Coordinator of Multi- Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project, North East Development Commission, Prince Chibuike Echem and Aminu Alhaji (still at large) sometime between 1st January 2023 and 31st December 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud, obtain the aggregate sum of N573,500,000 (Five Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu of Diamond Leeds Limited through Wema Bank account of Rpknce Chibuike Echem under the false pretense that you have the capacity to award contracts to Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu’s companies from the Multi- Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Program under the North East Development Commission and execute said contracts which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.”
When the charge was read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following their plea, the prosecution counsel, Olarenwaju Adeola, urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.
However, defence counsel Chukwuka Obidike told the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of his clients.
The EFCC lawyer opposed the immediate hearing of the application, noting that the prosecution had only been served the previous evening and required time to file a counter‑affidavit.
The trial judge agreed and granted the prosecution time to respond to the bail application.
“Taking into consideration all sundries and in the interest of justice, I will allow the prosecution to reply,” the judge ruled.
Justice Ogbonnaya ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, citing its proximity to the court, and adjourned the matter to March 25 for hearing of the bail applications.
The case dates back to 2023, when Echem allegedly introduced the Chairman of Diamond Leeds Ltd, Kenneth Ifekudu, to Danjuma Mohammed, who was presented as a power broker in the North.
Investigations disclosed that although Diamond Leeds was reportedly issued contract award letters, the company was never allowed to mobilise engineers or equipment to project sites in the North-East, with Danjuma allegedly stating insecurity as the reason.
Speaking after the adjournment, lead counsel for the nominal complainant, Beth Igwilo (SAN), said the prosecution would call seven witnesses in the case.
Diamond Leeds also alleged that all the contract documents presented for execution were forged and expressed disappointment that Echem, despite benefiting from the chairman’s goodwill, allegedly conspired with others to defraud the company.
The EFCC further revealed that the syndicate opened a Guaranty Trust Bank account under the name NEDC, through which part of the funds was returned under the pretense of payment for equipment supplied.
Investigations by the commission also reportedly uncovered additional fraudulent activities linked to Danjuma Mohammed, which ultimately led to his removal from the NEDC.
