The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, the Managing Director of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, over an alleged N144,162,500 fraud related to the 2024 Lesser Hajj pilgrimage.
The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the commission arraigned Mohammed before Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court in Gombe on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretenses and intent to defraud.
According to the EFCC, Mohammed and an accomplice, Nazifi Sale Idris (now at large), allegedly defrauded multiple individuals under the guise of providing flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
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One of the charges states that Mohammed fraudulently obtained N97,080,000 from a victim, Hamza Ibrahim Maina, under false pretenses. Another charge accuses him of receiving N29,082,500 from another complainant, Ibrahim Arabia, for the same purpose. The EFCC argued that the transactions were fraudulent, violating the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
During the court proceedings, EFCC prosecution counsel S.H. Saad opposed the bail application filed by the defendant’s lawyer, M.Z. Gambo. Saad argued that Mohammed had additional pending fraud petitions totaling N120,869,500 and posed a flight risk if granted bail.
Justice Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that Mohammed be remanded at the Gombe State Correctional Facility.
