The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, CEO of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, on a three-count charge of intent to defraud and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of N144 million.
Mohammed was brought before Justice TG.Ringim of the Federal High Court in Gombe on Monday, for allegedly collecting N144 million from Hamza Ibrahim Maina and Ibrahim Arabia for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
According to the prosecution, Mohammed, along with one Nazifi Sale Idris (now at large), obtained N97,080,000 from Hamza Ibrahim Maina for flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj. This act is contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006.
The second charge alleges that Mohammed obtained N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia for the same purpose, which is contrary to Section 1(2)(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences Act, 2006.
Prosecution counsel, S. H. Sa’ad, urged the court to set a trial date and remand the defendant at the Gombe State Correctional Facility. However, defense counsel, MZ Gambo, moved a motion for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution.
Justice Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the bail application and remanded the defendant at the Gombe State Correctional Facility.
Sa’ad argued that granting bail to the defendant could be risky, stating, “My Lord, the defendant still has about eight other pending petitions filed by different nominal complainants alleging that he defrauded them to the aggregate sum of N120,869,500, and if granted bail, he might flee the shores of Nigeria and may never be found again.”
