The Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has remanded a businessman, Bilal Muhammad, in a correctional facility over allegations of obtaining ₦500,000 by false pretence.
Muhammad was arraigned by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Amina Mustapha Ibrahim on a two-count charge bordering on fraud.
The anti-graft agency accused the defendant, who is the Chief Executive Officer of GDF Home Sales Enterprises Ltd, also known as GDF Company, of allegedly deceiving a resident, Adamu Abubakar, into parting with ₦500,000 under the guise of purchasing a tricycle, popularly known as Keke Napep.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offence occurred in April 2025 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
During his trial, the commission told the court that Muhammad obtained the money with the intention to defraud, having represented to the complainant that the funds were required for the procurement of a tricycle.
The prosecution alleged that the representation was false and that the defendant knew it to be so at the time the money was collected.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Bilal Muhammad, whilst being the Chief Executive Officer of GDF Home Sales Enterprises Ltd (a.k.a GDF Company), on or about April 2025 in Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of ₦500,000 from Adamu Abubakar under the false pretence that same was meant for the purchase of a tricycle (Keke Napep), a representation which you knew to be false.”
According to the EFCC, the alleged act contravenes Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
When the charges were read and explained to him in a language he understood, Muhammad pleaded not guilty.
Following the defendant’s plea, prosecuting counsel, A.D. Abdulmalik, urged the court to fix a date for trial and requested that the accused be remanded in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings.
In her ruling, Justice Ibrahim ordered that Muhammad be remanded at the Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Facility pending trial.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until June 22, 2026, for the commencement of hearing.