The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, before a Federal High Court in Gombe on charges of defrauding intending Hajj pilgrims.
According to the EFCC, Mohammed fraudulently obtained N144,162,500 from multiple victims under the pretense of securing flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
According to the anti-graft agency, Mohammed, in collaboration with Nazifi Sale Idris, who is currently at large, defrauded Hamza Ibrahim Maina of N97,080,000 through his personal Access Bank account (0026323827). Another charge accuses him of obtaining N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia in a similar fraudulent scheme.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Mustapha Mohammed, while serving as the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, alongside Nazifi Sale Idris (now at large), sometime in 2024, within Gombe State, fraudulently obtained N97,080,000 from Hamza Ibrahim Maina through your personal Access Bank account, under the false pretense of procuring flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
A second charge states that Mohammed fraudulently obtained N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia between December 2023 and February 2024, also under false pretenses.
Mohammed pleaded guilty to the charges, prompting his counsel, M.Z. Gambo, to apply for bail. However, the prosecution, led by S.H. Saad, opposed the request, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk.
The EFCC further revealed that eight additional petitions had been filed against Mohammed, alleging that he defrauded other complainants of a total sum of N120,869,500.
“My Lord, the defendant is facing multiple fraud allegations totaling N120,869,500. If granted bail, he may flee Nigeria and evade justice. For the interest of justice, we urge the court to deny his bail application,” the prosecution argued.
Following the submissions, Justice Tijjani Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the bail application and order
