Usman Zaki, a land agent, was arraigned on Wednesday, June 20, 2023, in a Kaduna High Court over an alleged N4.5 million fraud.
41-year-old Zakari (m) was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for forgery.
Counsel to the EFCC, Nasiru Salele, told the court that the defendant committed the offense sometime in September 2022.
Salele alleged that the accused forged the landed document for four plots of land located at Rigasa Kaduna and gave it to the complainant, Danladi Yusuf, as a deed for the plots of land.
“The defendant forged a document and sold four plots of land that do not belong to him to the complainant for N4.5 million,” he said.
Salele added that when the plaintiff stated that he was building on the land, he was accosted by the original owner of the property.
Salele further stated that efforts made by the plaintiff to get a refund of his money from the accused were futile.
He stated that the offense was contrary to Section 344 and punishable under Section 345 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Hassan Liman, counsel to the defendant, urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
The presiding Judge, Dairus Khobo, admitted the defendant to bail of N300,000 with one surety in like sum.
He added that the surety must be a blood relative of the defendant, and his address must be verified.
The case was adjourned to July 27 for a hearing.
