The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Mustapha Ibn Mustapha before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.

He was arraigned on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, on a three- count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and criminal conspiracy to the tune of N5,555,000.00( Five Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Naira only)

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Mustapha Ibn Mustapha and Mohammed Habib Alkali (aka Shettima) (now at large) on or about August, 2024 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N5,555,000.00( Five Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Naira) from Grace Marcel through your bank account number 3715541016 domiciled with FCMB Bank Plc under the false pretence that same is meant for the purchase of 30 (thirty) plots of land situated and laying at Njimtilo, Konduga Local Government, Borno State, purportedly belonging to you, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the count charges when they were read to him.

Counsel for the defendant, S.O Saka prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre.

Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned till September 23, 2025 for hearing and remanded the defendant in a Correctional Centre.

His journey to the Correctional Facility started when he sold plots of land belonging to Borno State Government situated behind Borno State University, Konduga, Borno State to a petitioner without delivering the landed property to her and all efforts to recover the money proved abortive.