The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited, Musa Farouk Abubakar, alongside the company and Sandra Chizoba Attoh, over an alleged N691.7 million fraud, corruption and money laundering scheme.
The defendants were brought before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday on an amended 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, corruption and money laundering.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences involve the movement and concealment of N691,677,310 believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
One of the charges alleges that Abubakar, in his capacity as Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited, transferred N297 million from the company’s account with Zenith Bank to an Access Bank account belonging to Attoh in July 2025. The prosecution contends that he reasonably ought to have known that the funds were proceeds of corruption.
The anti-graft agency further accused Abubakar of directing Attoh to transfer N262.9 million from her account to an account belonging to Mshell Homes Limited for the purchase of a property located at Kapital Villa, Guzape, Abuja, despite allegedly knowing that the funds were linked to unlawful activities.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following their plea, EFCC counsel Rita Ogar asked the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants in a correctional facility pending the determination of the case.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Ishaka M. Dikko, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of Abubakar and urged the court to allow his client remain in EFCC custody pending the hearing of the application.
Similarly, counsel to the third defendant, Y.G. Haruna (SAN), notified the court that he had filed a bail application for his client and had received the prosecution’s response.
Opposing the applications, the prosecution argued that it possessed substantial evidence to support the charges and urged the court to reject the requests for bail. The EFCC also informed the court that it had filed counter-affidavits and supporting documents challenging the applications.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Egwuatu ordered that Abubakar be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the filing of a response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
The court, however, granted bail to Attoh in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
As part of the bail conditions, the sureties must be Abuja residents, property owners, and provide passport photographs as well as valid means of identification. One of the sureties must also be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and must submit proof of appointment and latest promotion documents to the court.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until September 1 and 2, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
