EFCC Arraigns Ex-NEDC Project Coordinator, Two Others Over Alleged N2.2bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, over an alleged N2.28 billion fraud.

Mohammed was arraigned alongside Prince Chibuike Echem, while a third defendant, Aminu Alhaji, is currently at large. The defendants appeared before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Zuba, Abuja.

They were docked on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and forgery, involving a total sum of N2.2 billion.

At the hearing, prosecution counsel, Adeola Olarenwaju, informed the court that the original charge filed on December 3, 2025, had been amended. He applied for the substitution of the earlier charge with the amended 54-count charge dated January 22, 2026, and relied on the accompanying proof of evidence. Justice Ogbonnaya granted the application.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired between May 2022 and February 2024 to fraudulently obtain N2.28 billion from Mr. Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, and the company itself.

Count one of the charge alleges that while serving as National Coordinator of the MCRP, Mohammed, alongside the other defendants, conspired to obtain the funds under false pretences, an offence said to be contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

The case was adjourned to a later date for further proceedings.