EFCC arraigns travel agency CEO, Mustapha Mohammed for alleged Hajj fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, has charged Mustapha Mohammed, the CEO of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, with scamming prospective Hajj pilgrims before a Federal High Court in Gombe.

According to the EFCC, Mohammed illegally acquired N144,162,500 from several victims under the guise of obtaining aircraft tickets, visas, and accommodations for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The anti-graft agency claimed that Mohammed, in cooperation with Nazifi Sale Idris, who is still at large, scammed Hamza Ibrahim Maina of N97,080,000 using his personal Access Bank account (0026323827). Another indictment accuses him of receiving N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia through a similar fraudulent scheme.

One of the charges states: “That you, Mustapha Mohammed, while serving as the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, alongside Nazifi Sale Idris (now at large), sometime in 2024, within Gombe State, fraudulently obtained N97,080,000 from Hamza Ibrahim Maina through your personal Access Bank account, under the false pretense of procuring flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

A second accusation alleges that Mohammed fraudulently acquired N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia between December 2023 and February 2024, again under false pretences.

Mohammed pleaded guilty to the allegations, forcing his attorney, M.Z. Gambo, to file for bail. However, the prosecution, lead by S.H. Saad, rejected the request, claiming that the defendant was a flight risk.

The EFCC further revealed that eight more petitions had been filed against Mohammed, alleging that he robbed other complainants of a total of N120,869,500.

“My Lord, the defendant is facing multiple fraud allegations totaling N120,869,500. If granted bail, he may flee Nigeria and evade justice. For the interest of justice, we urge the court to deny his bail application,” the prosecution argued.

Following the submissions, Justice Tijjani Ringim adjourned the court to rule on the bail application and order.

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