The Sokoto Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Akinnola Rotimi Ali before Justice A. B. Abdullahi of the Katsina State High Court on a two-count charge, bordering on issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N14,300,000 (Fourteen Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira).
One of the charges read: “That you, Akinnola Rotimi Ali on or before the 26th September, 2018 at Katsina, within the Katsina Judicial Division of the High Court of Katsina State, did obtain credit from one Alhaji Ismail Ahmed by issuing a Sterling Bank Cheque No. 06394332 dated, 26/9/2018 for the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) only, which when presented for payment within months of issuance was dishonoured on the ground that there was insufficient funds in the account on which the cheque was drawn and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act CAP D11 Laws of the Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 1(1) (b) (i) of the same Act.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge following which
prosecuting counsel, M. M. Gwani, asked the court to fix a trial date and for him to be remanded in prison custody, while the defence counsel, Mohammed Adeleke urged the court to admit the defendant to bail to enable him go on with his treatment in a Lagos State orthopaedic hospital. The health condition of the defendant, his counsel said was already known to the court.
Additionally, the defence counsel informed the court that his client intends to plead guilty to a lesser charge yet to be agreed on with the prosecution.
Ali’s problem began when the Sokoto Office of the EFCC received a petition from one Alhaji Ahmed, who alleged that he granted him a N14.3 million loan on September 26, 2018, on the agreement that he will pay back after three months.
However, two Sterling Bank post-dated cheques Ali issued him with No. 06394332 for N10 million and 06394333 for N4,300,000.00, were dishonoured upon presentation for insufficient credit balance.
Justice Abdullahi admitted Ali to a bail bond from his counsel, who would have to produce him on November 12, 2020 adjourned date.
