EFCC Arraigns Kwara Businessman Over N170m Contract Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned businessman, Alexander A. Babarinde, for alleged involvement in a contract scam, obtaining money under false pretenses, and forgery.

Babarinde, from Oro-Ago, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, allegedly obtained over N170 million from Ezekiel O. Babatunde to fund and execute fake Federal Government contracts.

According to the EFCC, Babarinde presented Babatunde with forged contract award letters supposedly from government agencies including the Ecological Fund Management Committee, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and others.

Investigations revealed the letters were fabricated as the named agencies never issued the contracts.

Babarinde, his company Ajays Engineering Limited, and one Suleiman Muhammed (at large), allegedly defrauded Babatunde of the funds intended as capital to carry out the bogus contracts.

The EFCC arraigned Babarinde, Ajays Engineering, and Muhammed on Monday before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.

The suspects are facing an eight-count charge of obtaining money under false pretenses contrary to the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.

Count three of the charges against him reads: “That you, Alexander Adeniran Babarinde, Ajays Engineering Limited and Suleiman Mohammed (still at large) sometime between the months of January 2021 and December 2021, in Ilorin Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N30,530,300.00 from one Ezekiel Ola Babatunde as fees for the funding and execution of Federal Government contracts and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”

Count four of the charges read: “That you, Alexander, Ayays Engineering and Suleiman Muhammed (still at large), sometime between January 2022 and December 2022, in Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N6,655,009.00 from one Ezekiel Ola Babatunde as fees for the funding and execution of Federal Government contracts and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offence Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”

Babarinde and others pleaded not guilty to all eight charges.

The EFCC counsel, Rasheedat Alao, urged the court to remand Babarinde in correctional custody pending trial.

Justice Abdulgafar ordered Babarinde be remanded and adjourned the case to March 13, 2024.