The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, before a Federal High Court in Gombe for allegedly defrauding Hajj pilgrims of over N144 million.
The EFCC accused Mohammed of obtaining the funds under false pretenses for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj to Saudi Arabia, promising to secure flight tickets, visas, and accommodation. Mohammed allegedly collaborated with an accomplice, Nazifi Sale Idris, who is currently at large.
The anti-graft agency stated that Mohammed defrauded Hamza Ibrahim Maina of N97,080,000 through his personal Access Bank account. In another case, he was accused of collecting N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia for the same purpose.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Mustapha Mohammed, male adult, while being the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travel and Tours Limited and Nazifi Sale Idris (now at large), sometime in 2024 at Gombe, Gombe State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did with intent to defraud falsely obtain through your personal Access Bank plc account number 0026323827, the total sum of N97,080,000.00 (Ninety Seven Million, Eighty Thousand Naira) from one Hamza Ibrahim Maina for the purpose of procurement of flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia, which you knew to be false…”
A second count detailed a similar alleged fraud involving N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia, citing violations of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Mohammed pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, M.Z. Gambo, applied for bail, but the prosecution, led by S.H. Saad, strongly opposed the request, citing the defendant as a flight risk.
“My Lord, the defendant still has about eight other pending petitions filed by different complainants alleging that he defrauded them to the aggregate sum of N120,869,500. If granted bail, he might flee the shores of Nigeria and may never be found again. Therefore, in the interest of justice, we urge my Lord not to grant the defendant bail,” Saad said.
Presiding Judge Tijjani Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that Mohammed be remanded at the Gombe State Correctional Facility.
