By Hadiza Abdulkadir
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a couple, Baba Sule Abubakar Sadiq and Hafsat Kabir Lawal, along with two others, Abdullahi Bala and Ladani Akindele, for allegedly defrauding victims of ₦197,750,000 by impersonating the Katsina First Lady, Fatima Dikko Radda. They were charged before Justice Amina Bello of the Kaduna State High Court on March 10, 2025, for obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering, and stealing.
The EFCC alleged that Hafsat posed as the Katsina First Lady to deceive victims into a fake currency exchange deal. She and her accomplices allegedly obtained ₦89 million from a victim under the pretense of exchanging it for $53,300, with the funds deposited into Abdullahi Bala’s account. Investigations further revealed that her husband, Sadiq, provided her with SIM cards registered under the name “Fatima Dikko Radda” on Truecaller to aid the scheme.
All defendants pleaded not guilty. The EFCC’s counsel, Bright C. Ogbonna, opposed their bail applications, arguing they were not yet ready for hearing. Justice Bello ordered their remand in a correctional facility and adjourned the case to March 17, 2025, for the hearing of bail applications.
The EFCC stated that Hafsat fraudulently collected a total of ₦197.75 million from a bureau de change operator, claiming to have $118,300 to sell. The funds were allegedly laundered through various means. The case continues as the EFCC pushes for justice.