EFCC Arrests Travel Agency CEO Over Alleged 144million Hajj Fraud In Gombe

The Economic financial and crime commission, EFCC has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, to Court has been arraigned over an alleged N144,162,500 fraud related to the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.

The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the commission arraigned Mohammed before Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court in Gombe on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretenses and intent to defraud, according to to the statement from the commission on Monday.

According to the EFCC, Mohammed and an accomplice, Nazifi Sale Idris (now at large), allegedly defrauded multiple individuals under the guise of providing flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia

Count 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) sometimes in 2024 at Gombe, Gombe state within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to defraud falsely obtained 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 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, SH Saad prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Gombe State Correctional Facility.

However, counsel to the defendant, MZ Gambo moved a motion for bail which was vehemently opposed by the prosecution. Saad submitted that “my Lord, the defendant still has about eight (8) other pending petitions filed by different nominal complainants alleging that he defrauded them to the aggregate sum of N120,869,500 and if granted bail, he might fly the shores of Nigeria and may never be found again. Therefore, for the interest of justice, we urge my Lord not to grant the defendant bail”.

Justice Ringim, having listened to both counsel, adjourned the case for ruling on bail application and remanded the defendant at Gombe State Correctional Facility.