By WANDOO SOMBO

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, remanded the Project Coordinator of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed over alleged N2.2 billion contract fraud.

Justice Keziah Ogbonna also remanded Mohammed’s associate, Chibuike Echem, in Suleja Correctional Centre.

They were arraigned on a 55-count criminal charge bordering on advance fee fraud, forgery and the award of fake contracts.

The defendants were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which alleged that Mohammed, Echem and one Aminu Alhaji, who is said to be at large, defrauded one Kenneth Ifekudu of N2.28 billion between May 2022 and February 2024.

The EFCC alleged that the money was obtained under the pretence of awarding contracts from the North East Development Commission to Ifekudu, the Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Ltd.

According to the prosecution, the victim was made to part with the sum through advance fee fraud.

In another count, the EFCC alleged that the defendants obtained N649.5 million from Ifekudu between January and December 2023 through a bank account belonging to Echem claiming that they had the capacity to award contracts under the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) of the NEDC.

The commission further alleged that the defendants collected an additional N573 million from the same victim through a Wema Bank account belonging to Echem on the same grounds.

The EFCC also accused them of obtaining 480,000 dollars and 200,000 dollars from the victim between January and December 2022, under the guise of awarding contracts.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants issued fake contract documents in the name of the commission to induce the victim to release various sums of money.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them.

Following their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Olarenwaju Adeola, requested a trial date, informing the court that the prosecution had lined up seven witnesses to testify.

Efforts by defence counsel, Mr Chukwuka Obidike, to move a bail application were opposed by the EFCC.

Adeola told the court that the prosecution was served with the bail application on Jan. 26 and only became aware of it in court on Jan. 27, adding that the application was not ripe for hearing as the EFCC was yet to file a counter-affidavit.

In a brief ruling, Justice Ogbonna agreed with the prosecution and held that hearing the bail application would amount to a denial of fair hearing.

The judge consequently adjourned the matter to March 25 for the commencement of trial. (NAN)