EFCC Arraigns Man Over Alleged N56.4million Hajj Pilgrimage Fraud In Ibadan
EFCC Arraigns Man Over Alleged N56.4million Hajj Pilgrimage Fraud In Ibadan
Musa was docked before Justice Olusola Adetujoye on Thursday on a 57-count charge bordering on alleged stealing, forgery and uttering of forged documents.
The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Lawal Babale Musa before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over an alleged N56.49million fraud involving prospective Hajj pilgrims.
Musa was docked before Justice Olusola Adetujoye on Thursday on a 57-count charge bordering on alleged stealing, forgery and uttering of forged documents.
According to the EFCC, in a statement issued on Friday, the defendant allegedly collected N56,491,000 from intending pilgrims under the pretext of facilitating their participation in the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency but allegedly diverted the money for personal use.
Reading the charges before the court, the prosecution alleged that Musa dishonestly converted funds entrusted to him by prospective pilgrims.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or between 2nd November, 2022 to 22nd July, 2024 at Ibadan, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, converted to your own personal use, total sum of N56,491,000 (Fifty-six Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand Naira) from Ibrahim Shuaibu, the sums meant for Hajj pilgrimage through Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency for Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and Usman Haruna and thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The anti-graft agency further accused the defendant of forging official receipts purportedly issued by the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency to convince victims that their pilgrimage arrangements had been processed.
One of the charges stated: “That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or about 10th day of November, 2023 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, forged a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Receipt Number: 0013041 in the name of Jibril Adamu with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence of forgery of document contrary to Section 465 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Another count accused him of presenting forged documents to one of the victims.
It reads: “That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or about 2nd February, 2024 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, uttered a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Receipt with Receipt Number: 012654 to one Jibril Adamu with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence of uttering of document contrary to Section 468 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Musa pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges when they were read to him.
Following his plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.
Counsel to the defendant, Kehinde Adegbola, informed the court that he had filed a motion seeking bail for his client on liberal terms.
Justice Adetujoye subsequently adjourned the matter until August 17, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Musa be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
The EFCC said investigations revealed that Musa allegedly approached one Ibrahim Shuaibu, claiming he worked for the Kaduna State Government and could facilitate the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.
Believing the representation, Shuaibu reportedly informed several of his associates—Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and Usman Haruna—who are cattle breeders and livestock dealers in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State.
According to the commission, the prospective pilgrims collectively raised N56,491,000, which Shuaibu transferred to Musa to process their pilgrimage through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency.
However, the anti-graft agency alleged that none of the victims was able to travel for the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage because Musa failed to fulfil his promise despite receiving the funds.
The EFCC said the case forms part of its ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals accused of exploiting members of the public through fraudulent representations and forged official documents.
The case is expected to proceed after the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.
