RismadarVoice Reporters
June 22, 2026
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two men, Shamsudeen Lawal and Abubakar Abdulkadir, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Nyanya, Abuja, over alleged criminal breach of trust involving $180,000.
The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC’s Abuja Zonal Directorate before Justice A.Y. Shafa on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants allegedly diverted $180,000 entrusted to them by Data Group for the purchase of equipment intended for servicing MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.
The EFCC alleged that the funds were instead transferred to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed, said to be based in Uganda, for purposes different from those for which the money was originally entrusted.
The prosecution maintained that the action constituted a violation of the terms under which the funds were entrusted to the defendants.
When the charges were read in court, Lawal and Abdulkadir pleaded not guilty.
Following their plea, prosecuting counsel, Mariya U. Shariff, asked the court for a date to commence trial.
Counsel to the defendants, J.U. Bolori, applied for bail on behalf of his clients.
The application was not opposed by the prosecution, prompting Justice Shafa to grant the defendants bail in the sum of N1 million each, with two sureties.
The court ordered that one of the sureties must be a businessperson with a verifiable means of livelihood and must depose to an affidavit supporting the bail bond.
Justice Shafa subsequently adjourned the case until September 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court.
