EFCC arraigns suspect over alleged ₦56.4m Hajj pilgrimage fraud

The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, August 13, 2026, arraigned one Lawal Babale Musa before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, over an alleged ₦56,491,000 Hajj pilgrimage fraud.

Musa was docked on a 57-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion, forgery, and uttering of official documents contrary to and punishable under Sections 390(9), 465, 467, and 468 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

One of the counts against the defendant alleges that between November 2, 2022, and July 22, 2024, in Ibadan, he fraudulently converted ₦56,491,000 entrusted to him by Ibrahim Shuaibu money meant to secure slots for the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency for 10 individuals: Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa, and Usman Haruna.

The defendant is also accused of forging and uttering fake Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipts, including receipt numbers 0013041 and 012654 issued in the name of Jibril Adamu, with the intent that they be acted upon as genuine.

Musa pleaded “not guilty” to all charges.

Following the plea, prosecution counsel Bashir Shamsuddeen requested a substantive trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in a custodial facility.

Defense counsel Kehinde Adegbola countered by notifying the court of a pending motion seeking Musa’s release on bail under liberal terms.

Justice Adetujoye adjourned proceedings until August 17, 2026, to hear the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly solicited funds from Shuaibu by falsely claiming he was an employee of the Kaduna State Government who could secure placements for the 2023 pilgrimage.

Shuaibu subsequently mobilized 10 cattle breeders operating in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, who pooled their savings to fund the trip. None of the prospective pilgrims were able to travel to Saudi Arabia after the defendant allegedly misappropriated the funds.