The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Directorate, has arraigned a man, Lawal Babale Musa, over an alleged ₦56.49 million fraud linked to the 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.

Musa was arraigned on Thursday, August 13, 2026, before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.

The defendant faces a 57-count charge bordering on alleged stealing by conversion, forgery and uttering of fraudulent documents involving a total sum of ₦56,491,000.

According to the EFCC, Musa allegedly obtained the money from Ibrahim Shuaibu after claiming that he worked with the Kaduna State Government and could facilitate Hajj arrangements for prospective pilgrims.

The commission alleged that Shuaibu subsequently mobilised funds from 10 of his friends involved in cattle breeding and rearing in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State. The individuals reportedly paid a combined ₦56.49 million to Shuaibu, who transferred the money to Musa for the purpose of arranging their 2023 Hajj pilgrimage.

However, the EFCC alleged that Musa failed to fulfil the agreement, resulting in none of the intended pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj.

One of the charges alleged that Musa converted the ₦56.49 million to his personal use between November 2, 2022, and July 22, 2024, in Ibadan.

Another count accused him of forging a Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipt numbered 0013041 in the name of one of the alleged victims, with the intention that the document would be treated as genuine.

He was also accused of uttering another Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency receipt, numbered 012654, to one of the alleged victims in February 2024.

The alleged offences were said to contravene provisions of the Criminal Code Law of Oyo State.

Musa pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Bashir Shamsuddeen, asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility and fix a date for trial.

However, defence counsel, Kehinde Adegbola, told the court that he had filed a bail application seeking the defendant’s release on liberal terms.

Justice Adetujoye subsequently adjourned the case until August 17, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Musa be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.

The case remains pending before the court, and the allegations have yet to be determined by the court.