Friday, August 14, 2026 - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Lawal Babale Musa before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over alleged forgery, altering of documents and stealing involving ₦56.4 million meant for the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.
A statement by the agency, said Musa was arraigned on
Thursday, August 13, 2026, by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC before
Justice Olusola Adetujoye.
The defendant is facing a 57-count charge over the alleged
conversion of ₦56,491,000 belonging to Ibrahim Shuaibu and others for the
purpose of facilitating Hajj pilgrimage through the Kaduna State Pilgrims
Welfare Agency.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed
in Ibadan between November 2, 2022 and July 22, 2024.The first count alleged
that Musa converted the sum of ₦56,491,000 meant for the Hajj
pilgrimage of Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N.
Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and
Usman Haruna.
The charge states, “That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or
between 2nd November, 2022 to 22nd July, 2024 at Ibadan, within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, converted to your own personal use,
total sum of N56,491, 000.00 (Fifty-six Million, Four Hundred and Ninety-one
Thousand Naira) from Ibrahim Shuaibu the sums meant for Hajj pilgrimage through
Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency for Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa
Haruna, Suleiman N. Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman,
Musa Yunusa and Usman Haruna and thereby committed an offence of stealing by
conversion contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of
Oyo State, 2000.”
Another count accused Musa of forging a Kaduna State
Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipt numbered 0013041 in the name of Jibril Adamu.
The charge reads, “That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or
about 10th day of November, 2023 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court, forged a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Receipt
Number: 0013041 in the name of Jibril Adamu with intent that it may be acted
upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence of Forgery of document
contrary to Section 465 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code
Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
The defendant was also accused of altering another Kaduna
State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipt, numbered 012654, to Jibril Adamu on
February 2, 2024.
The charge states: “That you, Lawal Babale Musa ‘M’ on or
about 2nd of February, 2024 at Ibadan, Oyo State within the jurisdiction of
this Honourable Court, uttered a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency Receipt
with Receipt Number: 012654 to one Jibril Adamu with intent that it may be
acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence of uttering of document
contrary to Section 468 and punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code
Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State. 2000.”
Musa pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read
to him.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen, asked
the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in a Correctional
Centre.
However, counsel to Musa, Kehinde Adegbola, told the court
that he had filed a motion seeking bail for his client on liberal terms.
Justice Adetujoye subsequently adjourned the matter
until August 17, 2026, for hearing of the bail application.
The judge also ordered that Musa be remanded at the Agodi
Correctional Centre.
The case followed an alleged arrangement in which Musa
approached Ibrahim Shuaibu, claiming that he worked for the Kaduna State
Government and could assist in facilitating the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.
Following the claim, Shuaibu reportedly informed some of his
friends, including Jibril Adamu, Suleiman Aminatu, Musa Haruna, Suleiman N.
Abdullahi, Audu Bello, Yusuf Umaru, Saidu Musa, Idris Suleiman, Musa Yunusa and
Usman Haruna.
The individuals, who are involved in cattle breeding and
rearing in the Oke-Ogun area of Ibadan, Oyo State, were said to have
collectively raised ₦56,491,000 for the pilgrimage.
The money was reportedly paid to Shuaibu, who subsequently
transferred it to Musa to facilitate the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.
However, according to the EFCC, none of the individuals was
able to travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj after Musa allegedly failed to
fulfil his promise.
The matter has now been adjourned for the hearing of the
defendant’s bail application.
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