EFCC declares businesswoman wanted over alleged fraud case

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared a businesswoman, Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, wanted over an alleged case of obtaining money under false pretenses.

In a public notice issued on Monday, the commission released a photograph of the suspect across its official social media platforms, including its account on X, urging members of the public to assist with useful information that could lead to her arrest.

Tejuosho, 41, is described by the commission as an indigene of Lagos State. Her last known address is listed as House A26, Aso Grove Estate, Maitama Extension, Abuja.

While the EFCC has not yet released the specific monetary value or the identity of the victims involved in the case, the charge of “obtaining money by false pretense”—commonly referred to under Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code—suggests a significant financial fraud investigation.

The notice signed by Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC, partly read: “The public is hereby notified that HALIMAT ADENIKE TEJUOSHO, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Obtaining Money by False Pretense.

“Tejuosho, 41, is an indigene Lagos State, and her last known address is: House A26, Aso Grove Estate, Maitama Extension, Abuja.”

However, the Commission has urged anyone with useful information regarding Tejuosho’s whereabouts to contact their offices across the federation or reach out to the nearest police station,” the notice said.

EFCC had arrested Tejuosho, an Abuja-based businesswoman, in June 2025 for alleged involvement in an appointment scam and obtaining credit by false pretenses.

According to the lawyer of one of the victims, Chief Tolu Babaleye, Tejuosho, who claimed to be the founder of Haleems Integrated Services Limited, allegedly collected millions of naira and US dollars from unsuspecting victims by promising to leverage her supposed high-level connections to secure appointments and lucrative contracts.

Babalaye alleged that Tejuosho operated a sophisticated scheme, using forged documents and fake appointment letters to convince victims of her legitimacy.

He also alleged that she impersonated an aide to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, which the court had previously recommended her for prosecution on charges of Advance Fee Fraud, Criminal Diversion of Funds, Criminal Breach of Trust, and Cheating.