Ex-convicts Arraigned For N12.8m Fraud In Maiduguri

The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, arraigned one Bulama Yahaya Jibrin (aka Bulama Ayya) before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on a one count amended charge for obtaining N 5,400,000.00 (Five Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) by false pretences.

The charge read: “That you, Bulama Yahaya Jibrin (aka Bulama Ayya) sometime in August, 2016 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N 5,400,000.00 (Five Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) only, from Ibrahim Musa Abdulhamid under the pretence that the said amount represent payment for the purchase of a purported plot of land measuring 100 by 100 and an uncompleted house 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, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

The defendant pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge. 

In view of his plea, counsel for the prosecution, S.O Saka prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.

Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till July 26, 2023, for commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in prison custody.

 In a related development, the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC also arraigned one Allen Abel before Justice Kumaliya on a three count charge bordering on  obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and use of false documents to the tune of N7,480,000.00 (Seven Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira). 

Count one of the charge read: “That you, Allen Abel, sometime in the year 2020, in Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud induced one Dauda Iliya to deliver to you 50kg each of 400 bags of sugar worth N7,480,000.00 (Seven Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira) only, under the guise of executing a purported contract of supply to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, a claim you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge. 

The prosecuting counsel, S.O Saka prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.

Justice Kumaliya adjourned the matter till August 21, 2023, for commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in prison custody.