The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arraigned a staff member of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Aliyu Umar, and a staff member of a first-generation commercial bank, Ambrose Idama, over their alleged involvement in fraud valued at over N336 million.
Our correspondent reports that the defendants were arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, where the EFCC filed a nine-count charge relating to fraudulent conversion of funds and financial cybercrime.
At the arraignment, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Uwaisu Yusuf, informed the court that between March and September 2021, Umar allegedly obtained various sums totalling N336.4 million from Mallam Ishaku Danladi-Abari, a retired permanent secretary in the Nasarawa State Civil Service.
According to the prosecution, the funds were allegedly obtained under the pretext of facilitating a contract purportedly secured by Umar’s company, Bamo Value Integrated Services Limited, to supply five million 50kg bags of rice over a two-year period.
Our correspondent also reports that the alleged contract, valued at over N200 billion, was said to have been awarded by an organisation identified as UN Rescue Services, which EFCC investigations later revealed to be non-existent.
The commission further alleged that Umar conspired with Idama to authorise the transfer of N100 million to another account belonging to a non-existent company, Prowess Energy Limited.
After hearing submissions from counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon, granted Umar bail in the sum of N150 million, with two sureties. The sureties are required to own landed property valued above the bail sum and located in Abuja or Nasarawa State.
Idama was also granted bail in the sum of N100 million, with two sureties who must be close relatives and owners of landed property in Abuja or Nasarawa State.
The court further ordered that all sureties present evidence of three years’ tax payments, submit two recent passport photographs, and deposit the original documents for the landed property with the court.
Pending fulfilment of the bail conditions, the defendants are to remain in custody at the appropriate correctional facility.
Consequently, counsel for the defendants, Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu, described the ruling as satisfactory and said efforts would be made to meet the bail conditions to secure their release. The case was adjourned to March 2, 2026, for hearing.
