EFCC arraigns suspect in N603m NNPC ‘GMD’ job scam

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Gidado Ibrahim before Justice H. Muazu at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged N603.4 million job fraud targeting a victim with false promises of a top position at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Ibrahim, alongside Halimat Adenike Tejusho (now at large), faces an amended six-count charge involving fraud, obtaining money under false pretences, and forgery.

The scam allegedly unfolded between August and October 2024.

Count one accuses them of “obtaining the sum of N603,400,000.00 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.”

Count two alleges Ibrahim “did use as genuine a forged document titled ‘Presidential Villa State House, OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER’ when you knew or had reason to believe it to be forged,” violating Section 366 of the Penal Code.
Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to all counts. Prosecution counsel Y.

Tarfa urged the court to record the plea, seek a trial date, and remand the defendant in a correctional center.

Defense counsel B.B. Alhaji requested bail, noting it wasn’t ripe for hearing but asking for EFCC custody due to the defendant’s health.

Justice Muazu ordered remand at Kuje Correctional Facility and adjourned to February 17, 2026, for the bail hearing.