The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former project coordinator of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Danjuma Mohammed, and an Abuja-based socialite, Prince Chibuike Echem, over an alleged N2.28 billion contract fraud.

The duo were on Tuesday arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, alongside one Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large, on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

Mohammed, who previously served as the National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) at the NEDC, and Echem pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired between May 2022 and February 2024 to defraud Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, Managing Director of Diamond Leeds Limited, of the sum of N2.28 billion under the guise of awarding contracts under the NEDC’s programmes.

Part of the charge sheet alleged that the defendants falsely represented that they had the capacity to award and execute contracts under the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Programme (NERSP) of the NEDC, a claim the commission said they knew to be false.

The EFCC further alleged that between January and December 2023, the defendants fraudulently obtained N573.5 million from the complainant through a Wema Bank account belonging to Echem.

After the plea was taken, prosecuting counsel, Adeola Olarenwaju, urged the court to fix a trial date and order the remand of the defendants in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.

However, defence counsel, Chukwuka Obidike, informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of the defendants. The EFCC opposed the application, arguing that it was not ripe for hearing as it had only been served less than 24 hours earlier.

In his ruling, Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya granted the prosecution time to respond to the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre.

The case was adjourned till March 25 for further proceedings.