EFCC witness links Uyo fraud suspect to fake accounts

Nkereuwem Effiong

A third prosecution witness in the trial of alleged serial microfinance bank fraudster, Musa Saliu Adekunle, has told the Federal High Court in Uyo that the defendant was arrested with three mobile phones and a Point of Sale (POS) machine allegedly used to defraud multiple financial institutions, including the University of Uyo Microfinance Bank.

The witness, Deputy Superintendent of the EFCC, Mubarak Isah, testified before Justice Maurine A. Onyetenu on Tuesday that investigations revealed the electricity meter number used by Adekunle and his alleged accomplice to open accounts with UniUyo Microfinance Bank and other banks was fake and untraceable to the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.

Isah further told the court that responses from MTN showed that phone numbers linked to the UniUyo and other microfinance bank accounts were registered under names unrelated to Adekunle or his alleged syndicate members.

During examination-in-chief by prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, the witness said the EFCC sent investigation letters to the electricity distribution company and MTN, with responses allegedly exposing false identity details used in the fraudulent scheme.

The prosecution also tendered several exhibits, including a petition from the University of Uyo Microfinance Bank over an alleged N9 million fraud and another petition from Avuenegbe Microfinance Bank in Auchi, Edo State, accusing Adekunle and his accomplices of similar offences.

Other exhibits admitted by the court included three mobile phones and a Moniepoint POS machine recovered from Adekunle at the time of his arrest, alongside responses from eight financial institutions said to confirm the alleged criminal activities of the defendant and his associates.

Adekunle was first arraigned by the EFCC on July 18, 2025, on five counts bordering on conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining by false pretence. He pleaded not guilty and was subsequently remanded at the State Correctional Centre, Uyo.

Earlier in the trial, defence counsel, Savn Daniel, filed a motion dated March 9, 2026, seeking the defendant’s bail.

According to Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday, 14 May 2026, Justice Onyetenu adjourned the case until June 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail motion and cross-examination of the third prosecution witness.

One of the charges alleges that Adekunle, alongside Adebayo Taiwo Naheem, Mrs Igboabuchi Chinonso Happiness and Anuoluwapo Victoria Onibokun, all said to be at large, conspired in February 2024 to obtain property by false pretence and engage in money laundering in Akwa Ibom State.