The Kano Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Sadiq Yusuf before Justice M.T.M Aliyu of the Kaduna State High Court on a two count charge of obtaining money by false pretense.
The defendant was apprehended by Operatives of the EFCC following a petition by one Abdullahi Usman, alleging that the defendant obtained the money from him on the pretext of supplying him with computer equipment such as desktops, laptops and computer hardware from overseas at low cost.
He claimed the money was paid into accounts belonging to various individuals in four commercial banks and a microfinance bank, which the defendant gave to him.
However, after the payment was made, the defendant disappeared.
However, investigation by the Commission reveals that the defendant only received N1, 000,000 (One Million Naira).
The other beneficiaries are still at large.
One of the charges read, “That you Sadiq Yusuf and others at large, between August and October 2019, at Kaduna within the Kaduna judicial Division of the High Court of Justice did conspire among yourselves to commit an unlawful act to wit; obtain money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act. 2006 and punishable under Section1(3) of the same Act. “
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
Prosecution counsel Musa Isa requested the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendant be remanded in a custodial centre.
But defence counsel, Kasai Jesse moved a motion for the bail of the defendant.
Justice Aliyu admitted the defendant to bail, to a surety who must be his relation.
The surety will also present evidence of tax payment to the Kaduna State government.
The case was adjourned till January 20, 2021for hearing.
