The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned four suspects before Justice Muhammad Maina of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, over an alleged N44.7 million contract fraud.
The defendants are Ruth Emmanuel, Ibrahim Dogo Hyelni, Esther Loretta Gabari and Gbenga Makinde Obanewo.
They were docked on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, criminal misappropriation, forgery and use of false documents.
According to the charge, the suspects allegedly conspired and collected the sum of N44.7 million from one Ali Abatcha under the pretence that the money was for the execution of a contract purportedly awarded by Global Health and Social Awareness (GHASA) Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, to Ruhemd Global Enterprises.
One of the counts stated that the defendants, on or about December 2025 in Maiduguri, with intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N44,700,000 through the bank account of Ibrahim Dogo Hyelni under the false pretence that the funds were meant for the execution of the purported contract.
The EFCC said the representation was false.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court granted bail to one of the suspects in the sum of N50 million, while the others were remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
AbdulBasit Saba is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
