Two persons, Gidado Ibrahim and Halimat Adenike Tejusho (at large), were on Monday, February 9, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice H. Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, for allegedly obtaining N603.4 million from one Oluseye Yomi-Sholoye on the pretence of getting her a top job at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
They were arraigned on an amended six count charge bordering on fraud, obtaining under false pretence and forgery to the tune to N603.4 million.
At Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Y. Tarfa, drew the attention of the court to an amended six-count charge, urging the court to allow the defendant to take his plea.
Count one of the charge read: That you GIDADO IBRAHIM and HALIMAT ADENIKE TEJUSHO O (now at large) between August 2024 to October 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court obtained the sum of N603, 400,000.00. (Six Hundred and Three Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) from OLUSEYE YOMI-SHOLOYE under the false pretence that you will facilitate her appointment as the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Count two of the charge also read: “That you, GIDADO IBRAHIM sometime in August, 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court did use as genuine a forged document titled “Presidential Villa State House, OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER” when you knew or had reason to believe it to be forged and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 of the Penal Code Law and Punishable under Section 364 of the same Law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge when they were read to him.
In view of his not guilty plea, counsel to the prosecution, Tarfa, asked the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
However, counsel to the defendant, B. B Alhaji, informed the court of his application for bail, adding that although the application was not ripe for hearing, the defendant should be remanded in EFCC custody, considering his health status, pending the date for hearing and ruling on the bail application.
Justice Muazu adjourned the matter to February 17, 2026 for hearing of application while ordering the defendant to be remanded in Kuje forrectional facili
