The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Directorate has arraigned one Shamsudeen Lawal and Abubakar Abdulkadir before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Nyanya, Abuja.
They were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.
The EFCC said the duo and another suspect at large were entrusted with $180,000 USD by Data Group to buy equipment for MTN Nigeria, but allegedly diverted the money to Ahmed Sarki Mohammed in Uganda for a different purpose in 2024.
Count one reads “That you Shamsudeen Lawal, Abubakar Abdulkadir and another (at large) sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did agree amongst yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust while being entrusted the sum of $180,000 USD (One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollars) being payment by Data Group for purchase of equipment to service MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd which money you sent to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed based in Uganda for a different purpose which is in clear violation of the mode in which the trust was to be discharged and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.and punishable under Section 97 of the same Law.”
Count two reads “That you Shamsudeen Lawal, Abubakar Abdulkadir another (still at large) sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court while being entrusted the sum of $180,000 USD (One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollars) being payment by Data group for purchase of equipment to service MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd which money you sent to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed based in Uganda for a different purpose which is in clear violation of the mode in which the trust was to be discharged and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of penal code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under section 312 of the same Law”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel, Mariya U. Shariff prayed the court for a date to commence trial.
Counsel to the defendants, J.U. Bolori applied for bail on behalf of his clients. The application was not opposed by the prosecution and Justice Shafa subsequently admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) with two sureties, one of which must be a business man with a means of livelihood and must swear to an affidavit on the bail bond.
Justice Shafa thereafter adjourned the matter till September 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
