Social media users have reacted to the allegations of fraud that have been levelled against a former National Coordinator of the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, alongside Prince Chibuike Echem and Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large, over an alleged N2.28 billion fraud.
The defendants were on Tuesday, January 27 arraigned before Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Zuba, Abuja, on a 54-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and forgery.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, Adeola Olarenwaju, informed the court of the charge filed on December 3, 2025 and sought for its substitution with the 54 amended-count charge of January 22, 2026, while relying on the proof of evidence attached. The court granted his request.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed being the National Coordinator of Multi- Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project, (MCRP) North East Development Commission, Prince Chibuike Echem and Aminu Alhaji (still at large) between May, 2022 and February, 2024 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory conspired amongst yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit; obtaining by false pretenses the cumulative sum of (N2,280,000.00, (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty Million) from one Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, the managing director of Diamond Leeds Limited and Diamond Leeds Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
Count three of charge also reads; “That you Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed being the National Coordinator of Multi- Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), North East Development Commission, Prince Chibuike Echem and Aminu Alhaji (still at large) sometime between 1st January 2023 and 31st December 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud, obtain the aggregate sum of N573,500,000 (Five Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu of Diamond Leeds Limited through Wema Bank account of Rpknce Chibuike Echem under the false pretense that you have the capacity to award contracts to Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu’s companies from the Multi- Sectoral Crisis Recovery and Stability Program (NERSP) under the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and execute said contracts which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.”
They pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
The case has generated rife reactions from social media users who continue to question the country’s leadership amid the economic challenges facing citizens.
A social media user with the handle @mcicewater said, “too much money to be stolen always yet those not caught are more country dey bleed”
Another user questioned the mandate of the several development commissions stating “All these development commissions are avenue to defraud Nigerians with sham schemes and projects”
ojerehighstar3 wrote: “Abeg Wetin person fit do to be deported out of Nigeria???”
ogwashiukuboi commented: “Come o, so dem no dey steal small, money for dis country again? Always bili”
crown_thecook said: “Na who them catch be theft”