The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a staff member of the University of Benin over alleged salary duplication fraud of ₦3.2m alongside other defendants in separate fraud cases involving N650 million money laundering and N500,000 false pretence across Edo and Borno states.

In a statement shared on its official X handle on Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said:

In Benin, the EFCC’s Zonal Directorate brought Segun Bode Adedeji before Justice E. G. Adekanmbi of the Edo State High Court on a four-count charge “bordering on fraudulent practice to the tune of N3,285,396 (Three Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Six Naira) only.”

The commission said intelligence gathered by its operatives indicated that the defendant, while serving as a staff of the University of Benin, was allegedly receiving salaries from two public institutions simultaneously.

“Segun Bode Adedeji… was also drawing salaries from the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Benin City, at the same time,” the EFCC said.

In another case in Maiduguri, the EFCC arraigned Abubakar Muhammad before Justices Shehu Umaru Adamu of the Federal High Court and Amina Mustapha Ibrahim of the Borno State High Court over alleged money laundering and criminal conversion involving N650 million.

The anti-graft agency said the defendant, between 2021 and 2026, allegedly converted funds through multiple bank accounts, under the guise of a mining investment scheme.

“Directly converts the aggregate sum of N650,000,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) via your account numbers; 2270202119, 0003515514 and 5072107609 domiciled with United Bank for Africa Plc, Taj Bank and Moniepoint Microfinance Bank,” part of the charge read.

The EFCC said the defendant pleaded not guilty, while prosecution counsel Mukhtar Ali Ahmed urged the court to fix a trial date and sought remand in its custody. However, defence counsel B.G. Zanna applied for bail.

Justice Ibrahim granted bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties, one of whom must own property worth N400 million, and adjourned the matter to June 11 and 15, 2026, for hearing.

In a separate Maiduguri case, the EFCC also arraigned Bilal Muhammad, Chief Executive Officer of GDF Home Sales Enterprises Ltd, before Justice Amina Mustapha Ibrahim over an alleged obtaining by false pretence involving N500,000.

The agency said the defendant allegedly obtained the money from Adamu Abubakar under the claim that it was meant for the purchase of a tricycle, a representation it said was false.

“That you, Bilal Muhammad, whilst being the Chief Executive Officer of GDF Home Sales Enterprises Ltd… obtained the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Adamu Abubakar… under the false pretence that same is meant for the purchase of a Tricycle (aka Keke Napep), a representation which you knew to be false,” the charge stated.

The defendant pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting counsel A.D. Abdulmalik urged the court to fix a trial date and requested remand in a correctional facility. The court adjourned the matter to June 22, 2026 and ordered his remand at the Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Facility. (The PUNCH)

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