EFCC Arraigns Gidado Ibrahim Over Alleged N603.4m NNPC Job Scam in Abuja
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 9, 2026, arraigned Gidado Ibrahim before Justice H. Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged job scam involving more than N600 million. His co-defendant, Halimat Adenike Tejusho, is currently at large.
Ibrahim was docked on an amended six-count charge bordering on fraud, obtaining money under false pretence, and forgery to the tune of N603,400,000.00. The alleged offence relates to claims that the defendants fraudulently collected money under the guise of securing a top appointment at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
During Monday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Y. Tarfa, informed the court of the amended charge and urged the judge to allow the defendant to take his plea. Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to all six counts when they were read in court.
One of the charges presented by the prosecution stated: “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 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.”
The prosecution further alleged that the act constituted 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.
In another count, the EFCC accused Ibrahim of presenting a forged official document to support the alleged scheme. The charge read: “That you, Gidado Ibrahim, sometime in August 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court 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.”
Following the defendant’s not guilty plea, prosecution counsel Tarfa requested that the court fix a date for trial and order that Ibrahim be remanded in a correctional centre pending the commencement of proceedings.
Responding, defence counsel, B. B. Alhaji, informed the court that an application for bail had been filed but was not yet ripe for hearing. He urged the court to consider remanding the defendant in EFCC custody due to his health condition while awaiting the hearing and ruling on the bail request.
Justice Muazu subsequently adjourned the matter to February 17, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility pending further proceedings.
