EFCC secures conviction of ex-PAN staff in Kaduna

Etim Ekpimah

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC, has secured the conviction of one Yohanna Adamu before Justice P.H Mallong of the Federal High Court, Kaduna on a charge of obtaining by false pretences.

The defendant in 2018 obtained N 2,500,000 (Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from a petitioner to assist in purchasing a Peugeot 508 car in a purported auction sale at the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN) but became incommunicado afterwards.

The charge reads, “That you Yohanna Adamu while being a staff of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria, Kaduna sometime in October 2018 at Kaduna within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Justice did with intent to defraud falsely obtained from one Professor I.O Mbachu of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna the total sum of N2,500,000 ( Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) by falsely representing to him the auction of a Peugeot 508 ( Black colour) by Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, Kaduna and you issued him with two (2) cash receipts bearing Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, Kaduna being payment for the car for total sum of N2,500,000 which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

He however pleaded not guilty, prompting the commencement of full trial during which the prosecution called two witnesses and tendered five documents in evidence.

Delivering judgment on February 23, 2022, Justice Mallong was convicted but reserved sentencing until the defendant who was absent is brought to court.

The court also issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant who is currently at large.