Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned alleged serial fraudsters, Prince Chibuike Echem, a popular Abuja socialite, and Danjuma Mohammed, National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) at the North East Development Commission, over a multi-billion naira contract fraud.
EFCC
The duo were accused of swindling Diamond Leeds Limited, an indigenous construction and equipment supply firm, of several billions of naira by posing as contract facilitators linked to major government agencies.
On Tuesday, the defendants were brought before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Zuba to answer a 55-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and forgery. Both pleaded not guilty.
Trouble reportedly began in 2023 when Echem, leveraging his closeness to Diamond Leeds Chairman, Kenneth Ifekudu, introduced him to Mohammed, who allegedly posed as a power broker in the North. Investigators said Echem, who had business dealings with the firm as a consultant, abused his relationship with the chairman and connived with Mohammed to defraud the company of billions.
Although Diamond Leeds was issued contract award letters, the company was never allowed to mobilise engineers or equipment to project sites in the North East, with Mohammed allegedly citing insecurity in the region as an excuse.
Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya ordered the defendants remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to March 25 through April 7 for hearing of bail applications.
EFCC findings revealed that after repeated demands by Diamond Leeds for payment for supplied equipment, the syndicate opened a Guaranty Trust Bank account bearing the acronym “NEDC.” From this account, part of the defrauded funds was returned to the company, disguised as payment for equipment supplied.
Further investigations reportedly linked Mohammed to other fraudulent activities, which eventually led to his dismissal from the North East Development Commission.
