They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting prosecution counsel, Rita Ogar, to request a trial date and an order remanding the defendants in a correctional centre.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd, Musa Farouk Abubakar; the company; and one Sandra Chizoba Attoh before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged fraud.
They were arraigned on an amended 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit fraud, corruption, and money laundering involving N691,677,310 (Six Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira).
Count 10 of the charge reads: “That you Musa Farouk Abubakar, being the Managing Director of Abu Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd on or about 21st July 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court transferred the total sum of N297,000,000 (Two hundred and ninety-seven million Naira) from Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Ltd account No.1313378899 with Zenith Bank Plc to account no. 0108910277 of Sandra Chizoba Attoh with Access Bank Nigeria when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Count 11 reads: “That you Musa Farouk Abubakar, sometime in July 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, procured one Sandra Chizoba Attoh to transfer the sum of N262,866,310.00 (Two hundred and sixty-two million, eight hundred and sixty six thousand, three hundred and ten Naira) from her account no. 0108910277 with Access Bank Nigeria Plc to account no. 0003457246 of Mshell Homes Ltd with Taj Bank Ltd for the purchase of property at Kapital Villa Guzape, Abuja when you reasonably ought to have known that the said money formed part of the proceeds of unlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, prompting prosecution counsel, Rita Ogar, to request a trial date and an order remanding the defendants in a correctional centre.
However, counsel to the first and second defendants, Ishaka M. Dikko, informed the court that a bail application for the first defendant had been filed on May 19, 2026, and urged the court to instead remand him in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of the application.
“We were served with the counter affidavit on June 1, 2026 but we apply that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the prosecution,” he said.
Counsel for the third defendant, YG Haruna, SAN, also informed the court that he filed a bail application on behalf of his client on June 1, 2026, and received the prosecution’s counter-affidavit on June 2, 2026.
Opposing the bail applications, prosecution counsel said the prosecution had “overwhelming evidence in the case” and noted that counter-affidavits to the applications had been filed through Hayatu Bello.
“It is a 20-paragraph affidavit. We attached two exhibits, Exhibit EFCC 1 and EFCC 2. We have filed a written address and rely on all the issues raised and respectfully urge the court to refuse the applications,” he said.
After hearing both sides, Justice Egwuatu ordered that the first defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the filing of a response by his counsel to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
The judge, however, admitted the third defendant to bail in the sum of N200 million, with two sureties in like sum. He held that the sureties must be residents of Abuja, provide valid means of identification and passport photographs, and be property owners within the jurisdiction.
The court further directed that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, who must also deposit his letter of appointment and last promotion letter with the court.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to September 1 and 2, 2026, for trial.