EFCC Arraigns Ex-NEDC Project Coordinator, Others Over Alleged N2.28bn Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, arraigned a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, alongside Prince Chibuike Echem and one Aminu Alhaji (now at large), over an alleged N2.28 billion fraud.
The defendants were brought before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Zuba, Abuja, on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and forgery, amounting to over N2.2 billion.
At the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Adeola Olanrewaju, informed the court that the original charge filed on December 3, 2025, had been amended and sought its substitution with the 54-count charge dated January 22, 2026, alongside the accompanying proof of evidence. The application was granted by the court.
According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired between May 2022 and February 2024 in Abuja to fraudulently obtain the sum of N2.28 billion from Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, under the false pretence of awarding contracts under the NEDC’s Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Programme.
One of the counts further alleged that within 2023, the defendants obtained N573.5 million from the complainant through a Wema Bank account belonging to Prince Chibuike Echem, claiming they had the capacity to award and execute NEDC contracts—an assertion the EFCC said was false.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in court.
Following the plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in custody pending the determination of the case. Defence counsel, Chukwuka Obidike, however, drew the court’s attention to a pending bail application.
In response, the prosecution stated its intention to file a counter-affidavit, noting that the bail application was only served late the previous day and was not ripe for hearing. Ruling on the issue, Justice Ogbonnaya allowed the prosecution time to respond and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending trial.
The case was adjourned to March 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
