Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two men, Shamsudeen Lawal and Abubakar Abdulkadir, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Nyanya, Abuja, over the alleged diversion of 180,000 dollars meant for the purchase of equipment for MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice A.Y. Shafa on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.
The EFCC, in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, alleged that the defendants and another suspect still at large conspired in 2024 to divert the funds entrusted to them by Data Group.
According to the commission, the money was paid for the purchase of equipment to service MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd but was allegedly transferred to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed, said to be based in Uganda, for purposes different from those for which it was intended.
The anti-graft agency said the alleged actions contravened Sections 96, 97, 311 and 312 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja), 1990.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their plea, counsel to the EFCC, Mariya U. Shariff, prayed the court for a date to commence trial.
Counsel to the defendants, J.U. Bolori, applied for bail on behalf of his clients.
The prosecution did not oppose the application.
Justice Shafa admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million each with two sureties.
The judge ruled that one of the sureties must be a businessman with a verifiable means of livelihood and must depose to an affidavit in support of the bail bond.
The court adjourned the case until Sept. 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
