The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal Office, on Thursday dragged one Dije Sale before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on three-count charges of criminal conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of N 66 million (sixty-six million naira).
The fund, meant for the purchase and supply of foodstuffs to FHI 360, a Non-Governmental Organisation,
was allegedly diverted by the defendant after the contract for the supply was awarded to her firm, Amisa General Merchandise.
The offence runs 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.
One of thecharges read: “That you Dije Sale, being a managing director and alter ego of Amisa General Merchandise, a company, registered in Nigeria, sometime in 2019 at Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the gross sum of N66,000,000, (Sixty-six Million Naira) only, being the value of: (1) two thousand bags of beans; (2) two thousand bags of maize; (3) two gallons of cooking oil, all belonging to Alhaji Rabiu Haruna under the pretence of executing a contract of supply of food items to FHI 360, a Non-Governmental Organisation which you knew to be false.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, upon which prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali
Ahmad asked the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Centre, pending the determination of the case.
However, counsel to the defendant, Obi Okonkwo informed the court of a pending bail application served
on the prosecution and the court, and urged the court to admit his client to bail.
Justice Fadawu, however, turned down the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded
in a Correctional Centre.
He adjourned the matter till August 13, 2020 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.
