EFCC drags ex-Kaduna councillor back to court over alleged N16m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned a former councillor in Kaduna South Local Government Area, Theophilus Madami, over an alleged N16.08 million fraud, years after the anti-graft agency recovered N5 million from the alleged proceeds of the offence.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC following proceedings before Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court on June 22, 2026.

According to the anti-graft agency, Madami was re-arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on alleged obtaining by false pretence, criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation involving N16.08 million.

The commission alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained 4,020 cartons of pasta products valued at N16.08 million from Ibrahim Ringim Haruna, a representative of Pyramid Supplies and Services Limited, under the claim that the items had been requested by Kaduna South Local Government Area.

Part of the charge reads: “That you, Hon. Theophilus Madami, on or about the 5th day of November, 2018, in Kaduna, with intent to defraud, obtained 4,020 pasta food products worth N16,080,000 from one Ibrahim Ringim Haruna, being the property of Pyramid Supplies and Services Limited, under the guise that Kaduna South Local Government Area requested the same, a pretence you knew to be false.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read before the court.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Y.J. Matiyak, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

Defence counsel, B.E. Gwadah, made an oral application for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution.

After listening to both parties, Justice Isiaka adjourned the matter until July 22, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.

The EFCC stated that Madami was initially arraigned in 2019 over the alleged offence.

According to the commission, N5 million was recovered from the alleged proceeds of the crime and returned to the victim, Pyramid Supplies and Services Limited.