The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Kaduna Zonal Office has arraigned one Abubakar Uthman before Justice Mohammed Tukur of the State high court, sitting in Kaduna, the state capital on a one-count charge that borders on intent to defraud to the tune of N2,650,000.00 (Two Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only.
The suspect got into trouble when the Commission received a petition from Umarcon Global Resources Nigeria Limited, alleging that sometime in January 2016, one Engineer Uthman approached the company, claiming that he had been awarded a contract by State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Kaduna State, in which he gave the company the impression that he will cede 10 per cent of the contract sum to it, if it partners with him to execute the contract.
The defendant was alleged to have been given N2, 650,00.00 (Two Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only by the company on account of the proposal. It turned out that there was no such contract as claimed by Engr Uthman for the company to execute, yet all efforts for him to pay back the money proved futile.
The count reads, “That you Abubakar Uthman, sometime in January, 2016 in Kaduna within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the high court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2,650 000.00 (Two Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only from Umarcom Global Resources Nigeria Limited, represented by Umar Sani under the false pretence of securing contracts for them from the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, a pretence you knew was false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a)of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of the plea, prosecuting counsel, Onyeka Ekweozor urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody, but counsel to the defendant Nuhu Ibrahim, urged the court to grant his client bail by oral application, which was opposed by the prosecution counsel.
Justice Tukur granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N2million (Two Million Naira) and the case was adjourned to June 5, 2019 for hearing.