The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two suspects before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged ₦603.4 million fraud involving a fake promise to appoint a woman as Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL, formerly NNPC).
The defendants, Gidado Ibrahim and Halimat Adenike Tejusho (who is currently at large), face an amended six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, fraud, and forgery. The offences are said to have occurred between August and October 2024.
According to the EFCC prosecution led by Y. Tarfa, the suspects allegedly obtained the sum of ₦603,400,000 from the victim, Oluseye Yomi-Sholoye, under the false pretence that they could facilitate her appointment as GMD of the NNPCL – a claim the commission says they knew to be false.
One of the key charges reads: “That you GIDADO IBRAHIM and HALIMAT ADENIKE TEJUSHO (now at large) between August 2024 to October 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court obtained the sum of N603,400,000.00 (Six Hundred and Three Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) from OLUSEYE YOMI-SHOLOYE under the false pretence that you will facilitate her appointment as the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Reports indicate the scammers presented the victim with forged documents, including one purportedly from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Security Matters, falsely confirming her appointment.
Gidado Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to all six counts when the charges were read to him. Justice H. Muazu, presiding over the case, adjourned proceedings to February 17, 2026, and ordered Ibrahim’s remand at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre pending trial. Tejusho remains at large.
The case, first reported in Hausa-language media such as Aminiya.ng and corroborated by outlets including TheCable, Vanguard, Daily Post, and others, underscores ongoing concerns over job-related advance-fee scams targeting high-profile public sector positions in Nigeria.
The EFCC continues its investigation and efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspect while pursuing recovery of the funds for the victim.
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