The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a staff member of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Aliyu Umar, and a bank official, Ambrose Idama, over an alleged N336.4 million fraud.
The defendants were brought before the Federal High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on a nine-count charge bordering on fraudulent conversion of funds and financial cybercrime.
Prosecuting counsel, Uwaisu Yusuf, told the court that between March and September 2021, Umar allegedly obtained the funds from Mallam Ishaku Danladi-Abari, a retired permanent secretary in the Nasarawa State Civil Service, under false pretences.
According to the EFCC, the money was collected to facilitate a purported contract awarded to Umar’s firm, Bamo Value Integrated Services Limited, for the supply of five million 50kg bags of rice over two years. The contract was allegedly valued at over N200 billion.
Investigations, however, revealed that the contract was fictitious and purportedly issued by an organisation known as UN Rescue Services, which the EFCC said does not exist.
The commission further alleged that Umar conspired with Idama, a staff member of a first-generation commercial bank, to authorise the transfer of N100 million to an account belonging to another non-existent company, Prowess Energy Limited.
After listening to submissions from counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon, granted Umar bail in the sum of N150 million with two sureties who must own landed property of equal value in Abuja or Nasarawa State.
Idama was granted bail in the sum of N100 million, also with two sureties who must be close relatives and property owners in Abuja or Nasarawa State. The court ordered all sureties to present evidence of three years’ tax payments and deposit original property documents with the court.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the defendants were ordered to remain in custody at a correctional facility. The case was adjourned until March 2, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
