EFCC Arraigns 2 Over Alleged N19m Fraud In Borno

The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, arraigned one Alhaji Usman Bukar (aka Alhaji Jidda Abuna) before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on a one count charge of obtaining N9m by false pretence.

In a statement issued by the anti graft agency on Friday, the EFCC disclosed that Bukar committed an offence contrary to section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

The charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Usman Bukar (aka Alhaji Jidda Abuna), sometime in July 2022 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud obtained the gross sum of N9,000,000.00 (Nine Million Naira) only, from Alhaji Bukar Kime under the guise that the said sum represent payment for the purchase price of a plot of land laying and situate at Jere Local Government Area with a customary Certificate of Occupancy Reg. No. 0005538 and 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 and Punishable under Section 3 the same Act”.

The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.

Counsel for the prosecution, S.O Saka prayed to the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.

The matter was adjourned by Justice Kumaliya till July 24 and 25 for trial and ordered the remand of the defendant at Maiduguri Correctional Centre.

Meanwhile, One Yachem Mathias Ngaro was also arraigned before Justice Aisha Kumaliya on a two-count charge for criminal breach of trust to the tune of N10m.

The charge reads: “That you Yachem Mathias Ngaro on or about 8 February 2022 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with the sum of N10m only by Simon Dauda Waba for the execution of a contract with Médecins Du Monde a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) committed criminal breach of trust, an offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State of Nigeria and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law”.

The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

Counsel for the prosecution, S.O Saka asked the court for a trial date to prove the case against the defendant.

Justice Kumaliya however adjourned till July 24 and 25 for trial and remanded the defendant in Maiduguri Correctional Centre.