The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought Mustapha Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, before Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court in Gombe.
Mohammed faces three charges related to fraudulent activities, including obtaining N144,162,500 (One Hundred and Forty-Four Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) through false pretenses.
The first charge alleges that in 2024, while serving as CEO of the travel agency, Mohammed, alongside an accomplice, Nazifi Sale Idris (who remains at large), fraudulently obtained N97,080,000 (Ninety-Seven Million, Eighty Thousand Naira) from Hamza Ibrahim Maina through his personal Access Bank account. The money was supposedly for flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia, a transaction Mohammed knew to be false.
The second charge accuses Mohammed of similarly defrauding Ibrahim Arabia between December 2023 and February 2024, by obtaining N29,082,500 (Twenty-Nine Million, Eighty-Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) for the same purpose, also knowing the claims were false.
Following his arraignment, prosecution counsel, S.H. Saad, requested a trial date and the defendant’s remand in Gombe State Correctional Facility. The defense counsel, M.Z. Gambo, applied for bail, but this was strongly opposed by the prosecution.
Saad argued that the defendant is facing additional allegations from multiple complainants, totaling N120,869,500 in fraud, and if granted bail, he might flee the country. In light of this, Saad urged the court to deny the bail application.
After hearing both sides, Justice Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that Mohammed be remanded in Gombe State Correctional Facility.
