Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Bashir Ibrahim, a former contractor with the Kaduna State government, over an alleged N30 billion fraud.

In a statement shared on its official X account on Friday, the EFCC disclosed that Ibrahim, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Formal Act Legacy Limited, was accused of using fraudulent claims to mislead dozens of contractors across the state.

The commission stated that even though his official dealings with the Kaduna State government were terminated in 2023, Ibrahim allegedly continued to present himself as a consultant for all 23 local government areas in the state. He also claimed affiliation with bodies including the United Charity Foundation (UCF), FICCORD, and the Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to the EFCC, “It is also alleged that he informed his victims that he had a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State government for the purpose of sourcing intervention grants from global donor agencies for funding LGA projects and supporting the actualisation of SDGs within the state.”

Investigations revealed that the MoU he referenced was terminated in October 2023 after he was found to have violated its terms. Despite this, the EFCC alleged that Ibrahim went on to award fictitious contracts running into billions of naira.

“He convinced contractors to supply materials meant for hospitals and water projects — such as beds, drugs, boreholes, and ambulances — claiming he was acting on behalf of the government,” the commission said.

The EFCC added that Ibrahim allegedly diverted the items for his personal benefit, sold some, and withheld others from their intended recipients. It said he neither disclosed the supplies to the local governments nor made any payments to the contractors involved.

“He kept the contractors in the dark, refused to pay for the items, and stored the goods in warehouses unknown to the supposed beneficiaries,” the commission said.

It further alleged that Ibrahim sold fake contract documents through middlemen, with whom he shared the proceeds. The commission linked these fraudulent acts and the unauthorised alteration of contract terms to the eventual termination of his MoU with the Kaduna State government.

Recovered from Ibrahim’s custody were multiple items including Toyota Hilux vans, ambulances, buses, dispatch motorcycles, heavy-duty generators, and a large quantity of hospital equipment. Also seized were medical supplies such as capsules, syrups, creams, syringes, gloves, and vaccines for children — many of which were found in a private warehouse.

The EFCC said it is collaborating with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to determine the safety and authenticity of the recovered medicines.

Umar Suleiman, an official with NAFDAC’s federal task force, confirmed that some of the products had expired, while others were either counterfeit or sourced from unregistered manufacturers.

Abubakar Balarabe, a pharmacist from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, described the storage conditions as unsafe. “The place is not fit for storing medicines because of the way and manner they were kept,” he said.

The EFCC noted that Ibrahim would be charged to court once the ongoing investigation is concluded.

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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