RismadarVoice Reporters
January 29, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned BFI Group Corporation, six individuals before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Jabi, Abuja, over an alleged €100 million fraud.
The defendants are Reuben M. Jaja, Uzor Chidi Jerry, David Femi James, Imeobong Jumbo Udom, Adeola Edward, and Emeka Emmanuel Okorie.
They were arraigned before Justice M. S. Idris on a five-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, and false pretence.
At the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court of an amended charge dated January 27, 2026, and requested that it be read to the defendants for their plea.
One of the charges alleged that the defendants, between August 12, 2020, and March 2021, conspired to fraudulently induce the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to confer financial benefits on BFI Group Corporation through false pretence, an offence said to be contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
Another count alleged that BFI Group Corporation and Reuben Jaja attempted to obtain a Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI) for €100 million by falsely claiming that the funds were paid into a non-existent CBN account.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following their plea, the prosecution requested trial dates and time to respond to the defendants’ bail applications, which were served in court.
However, defence counsel Chinedu Eze, representing the first and second defendants, urged the court to grant bail through an oral application, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and judicial precedent.
He further prayed the court to grant the second defendant bail on self-recognition, describing him as a prominent traditional ruler.
The prosecution objected, arguing that the authorities cited by the defence were inapplicable.
Iheanacho maintained that once charged, the defendants were no longer suspects but accused persons before the court, and that bail applications must follow the procedure outlined under the ACJA.
Justice Idris adjourned the matter to February 3, 2026, for ruling and adoption of bail applications.
The court ordered that the fourth defendant be remanded in EFCC custody, while the other defendants were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
