The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, Musa Farouk Abubakar; his company, Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd; and one Sandra Chizoba Attoh before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged fraud.
They were arraigned on an amended 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, corruption, and money laundering to the tune of ₦691,677,310.00 (Six Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira).
Count 10 of the charge reads: “That you, Musa Farouk Abubakar, being the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, on or about July 21, 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, transferred the total sum of ₦297,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million Naira) from Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd account No. 1313378899 with Zenith Bank Plc to account No. 0108910277 belonging to Sandra Chizoba Attoh with Access Bank Nigeria Plc, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Count 11 reads: “That you, Musa Farouk Abubakar, sometime in July 2025, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, procured one Sandra Chizoba Attoh to transfer the sum of ₦262,866,310.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty-Two Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira) from her account No. 0108910277 with Access Bank Nigeria Plc to account No. 0003457246 of Mshell Homes Ltd with Taj Bank Ltd for the purchase of property at Kapital Villa, Guzape, Abuja, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty,” prompting prosecution counsel, Rita Ogar, to ask the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Ishaka M. Dikko, informed the court that he had filed a bail application for the first defendant on May 19, 2026, and requested that he be remanded in EFCC custody.
“We were served with the counter-affidavit on June 1, 2026, but we apply that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the prosecution,” he said.
Counsel to the third defendant, Y.G. Haruna, SAN, also informed the court that he filed an application for his client’s bail on June 1, 2026, and received the prosecution’s counter-affidavit on June 2, 2026.
In opposing the bail applications, prosecution counsel stated that her team had “overwhelming evidence” in the case and informed the court that the prosecution had filed counter-affidavits to the bail applications through Hayatu Bello.
“It is a 20-paragraph affidavit. We attached two exhibits, Exhibit EFCC 1 and Exhibit EFCC 2. We have filed a written address and rely on all the issues raised, and respectfully urge the court to refuse the applications,” he said.
After listening to both sides, Justice Egwuatu ordered that the first defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending his counsel’s response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit. The judge, however, admitted the third defendant to bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court held that the sureties must be residents of Abuja, deposit their passport photographs, and provide acceptable means of identification. In addition, they must be property owners, while one of them must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and deposit his letter of appointment and last promotion letter with the court.
The matter was adjourned till September 1 and 2, 2026, for trial.
