EFCC Closes N450 Million Fraud Case Against Ex-Power Minister, Four Others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has closed its case against a former Minister of Power, Mohammed Wakil and four others.

Naija News understands that the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency had dragged Wakil and his alleged accomplices, Garba Abatcha, Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Dr Abubakar Ali Kullima and Engr. Muhammad Baba Kachalla, before the Federal High Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, over a-seven count charges of criminal conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N450,000,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Million Naira).

They were alleged to have received the said sum from the $ 115 million disbursed by a former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

However, after presenting three witnesses on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, the prosecution closed its case before Justice K. Dagat of the Federal High Court.

Count one of the charges against Wakil and the other four read: “That you, Hon. Muhammad Wakil, Garba Abatcha, Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Dr Abubakar Ali Kullima and Engr. Muhammad Baba Kachalla, on or about the 26th day of March 2015 at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as amended).”

Naija News understands that the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Before closing its case today, the prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, appeared alongside S.O Saka, Faruku Muhammad, A.D Aliyu, V.O Ekanem, and A. A. Ayanshola tendered some documents, including the statements of the defendants, evidence of payment received by the three Senatorial districts, a draft from the first defendant, and a response letter from Fidelity Bank detailing the means of identification of the first and second defendants, which were admitted as exhibits.

Justice Dagat thereafter adjourned till October, 3,4, and 5, 2023, for the defendants to open their defence.