The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Kaduna state government contractor, Bashir Bello Ibrahim, before Justice A. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna over alleged N111 million fraud.

Ibrahim, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Formal Act Legacy Limited, was docked by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud, and money laundering.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant, in July 2024, conspired with others to obtain N37.3 million under the guise of facilitating contracts for the construction of solar-powered boreholes across the North-East, allegedly awarded through his purported position as a United Nations Sub-African Regional Coordinator.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when read to him. Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Fortune Amina Asemebo, requested a trial date, while the defence counsel, M. T. Mohammed, applied for bail.

Justice Aikawa, however, declined to entertain the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre pending its hearing.

The EFCC said the case stemmed from a petition alleging that the accused, through three accomplices — Josephine Washima, Mamuda Nyelong, and Nalara Tanimu — collected N37.3 million from the petitioner as a facilitation fee for fake borehole contracts.

The petitioner reportedly executed one slot of the purported contract in Karin Madaki, Bauchi state, where four solar-powered boreholes were drilled but was neither paid nor recognised by any legitimate awarding body.

The EFCC said the investigation revealed that the contract was non-existent and a ploy to defraud the complainant.