By Miriam Humbe
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, 20 July 2026, arraigned one Auwal Ibrahim before Justice M.A. Madugu of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Bwari, Abuja, for alleged fraud.
Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media & Publicity disclosed this in a statement.
The defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation and obtaining under false pretence to the tune of N5,307,000.00 (Five Million, Three Hundred and Seven Thousand Naira).
Count one reads: “That you Auwal Ibrahim and Malam Yahaya Babangida (now at large), between the 21st day of April 2026 to 28th day of April, 2026 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did conspire between yourselves to cheat by impersonation and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation and under Section 97(1) of the same Law.”
Count two reads: “That you Auwal Ibrahim and Malam Yahaya Babangida (now at Large), between the 21th day of April, 2026 and 28th day of April, 2026 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, did impersonate one Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa (popularly known as Tunde Ednut) and in that assumed character opened an account in the name of the said Adekunle Tunde Olaoluwa in Access Bank PLC with Account number 1975788197 and did obtain a total sum of N5,307,000 (Five Million, Three Hundred and Seven Thousand Naira) from unsuspecting members of the public and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation and punishable under Section 324 of the same Act.”
He pleaded “not guilty,” following which the prosecution counsel, Elizabeth Alabi asked the court for a trial date and remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
“Having pleaded not guilty, we shall be asking for a date to come and prove our case and we shall urge the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre,” she said.
Counsel to the defendant, M.M. Bali on his part disclosed that the defence was unable to file a bail application and urged the court to grant a short adjournment for him to file the application.
Justice Madugu ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter till July 27, 2026, for hearing of his bail application.
