The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, has arrested Bashir Bello Ibrahim, a former government contractor and Chief Executive Officer of Formal Act Legacy Limited, over an alleged N30 billion fraud.
According to the EFCC, Ibrahim was taken into custody following multiple petitions accusing him of fraudulent activities across Kaduna State.
Despite the termination of his contract with the Kaduna State Government, he allegedly continued to parade himself as a consultant for the state’s 23 local government areas and the United Charity Foundation (UCF), FICCORD, which he claimed had ties to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office.
The Commission stated that Ibrahim had claimed to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State Government in 2020 to source intervention funds from global donors for grassroots development projects.
However, investigations revealed that the MoU was revoked in October 2023 due to non-compliance with its terms.
Despite the revocation, the suspect allegedly went on to fraudulently award fictitious contracts worth around N30 billion.
He reportedly convinced contractors to supply various items—ranging from hospital equipment, borehole materials, and medical supplies—under the guise of executing government-backed projects.
Rather than delivering these items to the intended beneficiaries, he allegedly warehoused them and diverted the proceeds for personal use.
EFCC investigators further alleged that Ibrahim failed to pay contractors and used proxies to sell fake contract award documents, sharing the proceeds among his accomplices.
His unauthorized changes to contract terms and manipulation of agreements were said to have contributed to the final termination of his relationship with the state government.
Recovered items from his storage facilities include Toyota Hilux pickup vans, ambulances, buses, dispatch motorcycles, hospital beds, mattresses, vaccines, and heavy-duty generators.
A substantial quantity of medical drugs and consumables—such as tablets, capsules, syrups, syringes, and gloves—were also seized.
The EFCC is currently working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to assess the quality and safety of the medical supplies found.
Umar Ahmad Suleiman, an official from NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement unit, confirmed that while some products were properly registered and within their shelf life, others were expired or counterfeit, with some manufacturers unregistered.
Supporting the findings, Abubakar Isa Balarabe, a pharmacist from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, noted that the storage conditions for the medical supplies were substandard.
“The storage is not fit for any medicine because of the way and manner it was kept,” he said.
The EFCC confirmed that charges will be filed against Ibrahim upon conclusion of ongoing investigations.