The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Mustapha Mohammed, the Chief Executive Officer of MB Lugga Global Travels and Tours Limited, on charges of defrauding clients of N144 million under the pretense of facilitating their 2024 Ramadan Lesser Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The arraignment took place before Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court in Gombe.

According to the EFCC, Mohammed, in collaboration with an accomplice named Nazifi Idris (currently at large), fraudulently obtained N97,080,000 from Hamza Maina and N29,082,500 from Ibrahim Arabia, claiming these funds were for flight tickets, visas, and accommodation for the pilgrimage. These actions contravene Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution counsel, S.H. Sa’ad, requested a trial date and the remand of the defendant in the Gombe State Correctional Facility. The defense counsel, M.Z. Gambo, filed a bail application, which the prosecution opposed, citing additional pending petitions against Mohammed alleging he defrauded other complainants of an aggregate sum of N120,869,500. Justice Ringim adjourned the case for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that Mohammed be remanded in custody.

The EFCC's actions underscore its commitment to combating fraud and ensuring accountability within the travel industry.