RismadarVoice Reporters, August 14, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Lawal Babale Musa before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over an alleged N56.49 million fraud involving Hajj pilgrimage arrangements.
Musa was arraigned on Thursday, August 13, 2026, by the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Directorate on a 57-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering of documents and stealing by conversion.
The EFCC alleged that Musa obtained and converted N56.491 million paid by Ibrahim Shuaibu and 10 others for the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency.
The Commission further alleged that the defendant forged and uttered Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipts to make the fraudulent transaction appear genuine.
The 11 prospective pilgrims reportedly paid the money after Musa allegedly represented that he worked for the Kaduna State Government and could facilitate their participation in the 2023 Hajj. However, none of them travelled to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
Musa pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen, requested a trial date and the defendant’s remand in a correctional facility.
Defence counsel, Kehinde Adegbola, informed the court that he had filed a bail application seeking his client’s release on liberal terms.
Justice Olusola Adetujoye adjourned the case until August 17, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and ordered that Musa be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
