From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Bashir Bello Ibrahim, a former contractor for the Kaduna State government and Chief Executive Officer of Formal Act Legacy Limited, before Justice A. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna on allegation of fraud.
Ibrahim faces a seven-count indictment that includes obtaining money by false pretenses, advance fee fraud, and money laundering.
One of the charges states: “That you, Bashir Ibrahim Bello (as Managing Director of Formal Act Legacy Limited), and Formal Act Legacy Limited, sometime in July 2024 in Kaduna, conspired to commit a felony by obtaining the sum of N37,300,000 (Thirty-Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) under false pretenses. This constitutes an offense contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Another charge specifies: “That you, Bashir Ibrahim Bello (as Managing Director of Formal Act Legacy Limited), and Formal Act Legacy Limited, conspired to commit money laundering in July 2024 in Kaduna, which constitutes an offense contrary to Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and is punishable under Section 18(3) and (4) of the same Act.”
When these charges were read to him, Ibrahim pleaded “not guilty.”
In response, prosecuting counsel Fortune Amina I. Asemebo requested a trial date, while the defense counsel, M. T. Mohammed, filed a motion for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application. However, the court did not entertain the bail request at that time.
Justice Aikawa ordered Ibrahim to be remanded in a correctional facility pending the hearing of his bail application.
The petitioner in this case alleged that he was introduced to Ibrahim by three individuals—Josephine Washima, Mamuda Nyelong, and Nalara Tanimu—who presented themselves as contract facilitators.
They convinced him that Ibrahim would award him contracts for constructing solar-powered boreholes to be installed in various locations across the North-Eastern region of Nigeria, claiming this would be done as part of his role as the United Nations Sub-regional Representative for Africa
Convinced by their claims, the petitioner reportedly paid over N37,300,000 (Thirty-Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) as a facilitation fee, transferring the funds to Washima’s bank account.
He received five notification letters confirming the award of contracts for the drilling of 20 solar-powered boreholes.
The petitioner further alleged he completed one segment of the contract, which included building four solar-powered boreholes located behind the Specialist School, Sabon Abuja Jahun, and in the Nurses Quarters and Water Board Quarters, all in Karin Madaki, Bauchi State.
However, he later realized this contract was fraudulent and subsequently submitted a petition to the EFCC.
