Glory Ebomah
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, April 14, 2022, arraigned one Mohammed Bukar (a.k.a Gausu) before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on one count of obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N19,000,000.00 (Nineteen Million Naira only).
The defendant fraudulently collected the sum from Ba’ana Modu Buraye for the execution of a purported contract awarded to him by Norwegian Refugee Council for the supply of water pumps.
The count reads: “That you Mohammed Bukar (Gausu) sometime in August 2021 in Maiduguri Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced one Ba’ana Modu Buraye to cause the gross sum of Nineteen Million Naira (N19, 000,000.00) only to be delivered to you via MUB Guzamala Enterprises Bank account No. 0003811629 domiciled in Jaiz Bank Plc. under the false pretence that you were to use the said sum for the execution of a purported contract awarded to you by Norwegian Refugee Council, a Non-Governmental Organisation for the supply of water pump which fact you knew to be false and thereby an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 1(1) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2016.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Counsel for the prosecution, Haruna Albulkadir, asked for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in prison custody.
Justice Kumaliya ordered the remand of the defendant in prison custody and adjourned till May 19, 2022.
In a related development, one Adamu Ibrahim was arraigned before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court on a one count charge of obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira only).
The count reads: “That you, Adamu Ibrahim sometime in March 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N3,000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) from Abubakar Bashir under the false pretence that the said amount represents payment for the purchase of a purported plot of land measuring 50ft by 100ft laying and situated at Shuwari II, behind Innovative Secondary School, Konduga Local Government Area, Borno State which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2016 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the single count preferred against him.
Counsel for the prosecution, Haruna Abdulkadir applied for a trial date and prayed the defendant be remanded the defendant in prison custody.
Justice Kumaliya ordered the remand of the defendant in prison custody and adjourned till May 16, 2022.
Meanwhile, the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, April 14, 2022, also secured the conviction and sentencing of one Modu Ali before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.
The defendant was arraigned on two counts of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N570, 000.00 (Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira only).
The defendant, while acting as an agent, dishonestly sold two plots of land to Suleiman Bukar and Abubakar Mala and refused to remit the money to the owner of the said land. The complainants eventually requested a refund of their money but the defendant failed.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you Modu Ali on or about the 15th January 2019 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N270,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira) only property belonging to one Suleiman Bukar of Dala Shehuri Maiduguri, Borno State being the amount for the purchase of a plot of land lying and situate at Masa Malambe behind Bakasi Estate, Maiduguri, Borno State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code, Laws of Borno State Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994 respectively.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter convicted and sentenced Ali to one-year imprisonment with an option of a N50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira only) fine. The Judge ordered the convict to restitute his victim the sum of N270,000.