Aisha Alkali Wakil, commonly known as ‘Mama Boko Haram’, and two co-conspirators, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on two counts of conspiracy and cheating, involving a sum of N150,000,000.
The accused appeared before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri. The charges stem from their roles as officers of the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organization based in Maiduguri.
According to the EFCC, in 2018, the trio exploited their positions to deceive Alhaji Bulama Bakki, the CEO of Bakki Commodity Investment Company Limited and Ngumati Investment Company Limited. They purported to engage in a contract, where Bakki was tasked with supplying 5000 bags of high-quality white beans, each weighing 50kg, at the rate of N23,000 per bag. Additionally, they requisitioned seven units of mobile ultra-scanning machines powered by solar energy, 2018 brand, totaling N150,000,000.
Although Bakki fulfilled the supply of the products, the defendants failed to make the agreed payments, leading to their subsequent arraignment.
Count two of the charges states: “That you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura, and Prince Lawal Shoyode, while serving as the Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager, and Country Director, respectively, of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, and Saidu Mukhtar (at large) in August 2018 in Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Alhaji Bulama Bakki, CEO of Bakki Commodity Investment Company Limited and Ngumati Investment Company Limited, under the guise of executing a contract for the supply of 5000 bags of high-quality white beans of 50kg each at the rate of N23,000 (Twenty Three Thousand Naira) only each and seven units of mobile ultra-scanning Machines solar energy (2018 brand) at the rate of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) only, totaling N150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only), which he did, and you refused to pay him and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320(a) of the Borno State Penal Code Law Cap 102 and punishable under section 322 of the same Law.”
The defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges, and the prosecution, represented by A.I Arogha and S.O Saka, requested a trial date. Justice Fadawu subsequently adjourned the case and ordered the defendants to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
