Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has charged two people over an alleged scheme to defraud a woman of ₦603.4m by promising to secure her appointment as the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
The EFCC said the suspects, Gidado Ibrahim and Halimat Adenike Tejusho, obtained the money from Oluseye Yomi-Sholoye under false pretences. Ms Tejusho is currently at large.
Mr Ibrahim was arraigned on Monday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on an amended six-count charge including fraud and obtaining money by deception.
Prosecutors allege that the suspects also forged a document bearing the title “Presidential Villa, State House, Office of the National Security Adviser” to support their claims.
Mr Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following the plea, the prosecution asked the court to fix a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in custody. Defence counsel appealed for Mr Ibrahim to be held in EFCC custody instead, citing health concerns, pending a decision on bail.
The trial judge, H. Muazu, adjourned the case to 17 February 2026 for a hearing on the bail application and ordered that Mr Ibrahim be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The EFCC says investigations are ongoing and efforts are being made to arrest the second suspect.
