CEO arraigned for ₦144m Hajj fraud in Gombe court

EFCC arraigns travel CEO Mustapha Mohammed for ₦144m Hajj fraud in Gombe court, with more cases pending against him

 

 

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, on a three-count charge related to fraud.

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He allegedly obtained ₦144 million under false pretences from individuals seeking to embark on the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed appeared before Justice T.G. Ringim at the Federal High Court in Gombe on Monday.

The EFCC claimed he, alongside an accomplice, Nazifi Idris (currently at large), fraudulently collected ₦97,080,000 from Hamza Maina for flight tickets, visas, and accommodation. Additionally, he allegedly defrauded Ibrahim Arabia of ₦29,082,500 for the same purpose.

The EFCC stated that these offences violate sections 1(1)(a) and 1(2)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

During the court session, the EFCC’s counsel, S.H. Sa’ad, requested a trial date and urged the judge to remand Mohammed at the Gombe State Correctional Facility.

However, the defendant’s lawyer, M.Z. Gambo, filed a bail application, which the prosecution opposed.

Sa’ad argued that Mohammed has eight other fraud-related petitions against him, involving a total of ₦120,869,500.

The prosecution expressed concerns that granting him bail could lead to his fleeing the country to evade justice.

Justice Ringim adjourned the case to a later date for a ruling on the bail application and ordered Mohammed’s remand at the correctional facility.

The case highlights the increasing number of financial fraud incidents in Nigeria, particularly in the travel sector.

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In recent months, the EFCC has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent activities, securing convictions and freezing assets linked to scams.