The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a husband and wife, Baba Sule Abubakar Sadiq and Hafsat Kabir Lawal, alongside Abdullahi Bala and Ladani Akindele, before Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court for alleged fraud amounting to N197.75 million.

The defendants face six counts of obtaining money by false pretences, money laundering, and stealing. They were arraigned on Monday, March 10th, 2025.

The EFCC alleges that the defendants colluded to defraud victims by impersonating Fatima Dikko Radda, the wife of the Katsina State Governor.

The defendants were initially arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently transferred to the EFCC.

“The defendants allegedly defrauded their victims through various guises, including impersonating the Katsina State First Lady,” an EFCC spokesperson stated.

One of the charges details how the defendants allegedly obtained N89 million from Aminu Usman by falsely claiming to have $53,300 to exchange for naira.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution requested a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional facility. The defence counsel filed bail applications, which were opposed by the prosecution.

Justice Bello remanded the defendants in a correctional facility and adjourned the case to March 17th, 2025, for the hearing of bail applications.

EFCC investigations revealed that Hafsat contacted petitioners claiming to be one of the governor’s wives, obtaining N89 million and N108 million by falsely claiming to have $118,300. Her husband, Sadiq, allegedly provided her with SIM cards registered under Fatima Dikko Radda’s name.

Sadiq allegedly contacted Ladani Akindele, a former colleague, to obtain the contact details of a bureau de change operator, Aminu Usman. Hafsat then contacted Usman, collecting N197.75 million, which was deposited into Abdullahi Bala’s bank account and subsequently distributed among the defendants.

“The money was allegedly distributed among the four defendants and laundered through various means,” the EFCC spokesperson confirmed.