EFCC Arraigns Energy Commission Director for N3.8m Contract Fraud

The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned an Acting Director of Renewable Energy Department of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Alhassan Musa before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Gwagwalada for allegedly defrauding one Alhaji Musa Baba the sum of N3,800,000 (Three Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira Only) in a failed contract award.

He was arraigned on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, on three-count charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretense.

Count one reads “That you Alhassan Musa on or about the 21st January 2019 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court by false pretenses and with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N3,800,000.00) for yourself from one Alhaji Musa Baba as fee for the award of a contract for the rehabilitation of Jatropha Farm Karshi for Bio Diesel Production by the Energy Commission of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1)(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Count two reads ‘That you Alhassan Musa on or about the 21st January 2019 did make a false contract award on Energy Commission of Nigeria letterhead with intent to cause one Alhaji Musa Baba to part with the sum of Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N3, 800,000.00) only and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under Section 364 of the same Act.

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He pleaded not guilty to all three count charges when they were read to him, which prompted the prosecution to seek a trial date.

Justice Shafa however granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira Only) with one surety in like sum. He further ordered that the suspect be remanded in Kuje Correctional Service till February 22, 2024 pending the fulfillment of his bail condition.

Musa, an Acting Director with Renewable Energy Department of the Energy Commission of Nigeria was arrested by the EFCC through a petition for allegedly collecting the sum of N3,800,000 from the petitioner, sometimes in January 21, 2019 with a promise of offering him a contract for the rehabilitation of Jetropha Farms Karshi for BioDiesel production which he since did not fulfil.