The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Managing Director of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited, Musa Farouk Abubakar, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged fraud and money laundering case involving the sum of ₦691.7 million.
It was reported that Abubakar was arraigned on Wednesday, along with his company, Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited, and Sandra Chizoba Attoh before Justice Obiora Egwuatu.
The defendants now face an amended 15-count charge of conspiracy, fraud, corruption and money laundering.
The anti-graft agency charged that Abubakar transferred ₦297 million from the account of Abu-Haneefa Oil and Gas Limited with Zenith Bank to an Access Bank account of Attoh in July 2025. The EFCC said the money was suspected proceeds of corruption.
The commission also alleged that later in the same month, Abubakar facilitated the transfer of ₦262.9 million from Attoh’s Access Bank account to an account of Mshell Homes Limited with Taj Bank.
Investigators said the money was used to acquire a property located at Kapital Villa in Guzape, Abuja and the funds, they maintained, were linked to illicit activities.
The three defendants denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty when the charges were read in court.
After the plea, EFCC lawyer, Rita Ogar sought for a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the hearing of the case.
Counsel to Abubakar and his company, Ishaka M. Dikko, told the court that a bail application had been filed on May 19, 2026, on behalf of the first defendant.
He also informed the court that the defence had been served with the prosecution’s reply to the application and asked that his client be kept in EFCC detention while the matter was being considered.
Attoh’s lawyer, Y. G. Haruna (SAN), also told the court that he had filed a bail application on behalf of his client on June 1 and got a response from the prosecution the next day.
The EFCC opposed the bail applications, arguing that it has strong evidence against the defendants.
The prosecution said it had filed counter-affidavits backed by documentary exhibits and urged the court to dismiss the applications.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Egwuatu ordered that Abubakar should be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending further proceedings and until his legal team responds to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
But the judge granted Attoh bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties of same amount.
He said the sureties must be residing in Abuja, provide their passport photographs and valid means of identification.
They should also own property. One of them must be a civil servant of Grade Level 15 or higher and must submit appointment and latest promotion documents to the court.
The case was adjourned for trial to September 1 and 2, 2026.
