The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a man, Bello Muhammad Kaloma, also known as Muhammad Auwal, over an alleged N6.16 million fraud involving a purported auctioned tractor in Bauchi State.
Kaloma was arraigned before Justice Aminu Garba of the Federal High Court in Bauchi by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and money laundering.
The commission alleged that the defendant obtained N5.7 million through electronic transfers from MB Modi Logistics Nigeria Limited, a company belonging to Musa Umar Ibrahim, under the pretext that the money was for the purchase of a tractor being auctioned by the Chairman of Ganjuwa Local Government Area.
According to the charge, the alleged transaction occurred on or about April 23, 2025, within the jurisdiction of the court.
The EFCC alleged that Kaloma received the N5.7 million in his personal account domiciled with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), falsely representing that the money would be used to purchase the auctioned tractor.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The commission further alleged that the total amount involved in the transaction was N6.16 million.
When the charges were read to him, Kaloma pleaded not guilty.
Prosecution counsel, M.T. Iko, subsequently asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in a correctional centre.
Justice Garba adjourned the case until October 30, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.
The EFCC said the case originated when Kaloma allegedly approached the petitioner and claimed that his boss intended to auction a tractor for N6.16 million.
After the petitioner reportedly paid the money in two tranches, neither was the tractor delivered nor was the money refunded, prompting the complaint that led to the prosecution.
The allegations are before the court, and the defendant has pleaded not guilty.
