Alleged N25m Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Man For Land Racketeering In Maiduguri
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Mohammed Umar Aji before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri for alleged land fraud.
He was arraigned on a one- count amended charge bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of N25, 000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Naira) by the Maiduguri Zonal Command.
The lone- count read: “That you, Muhammad Umar Aji, sometimes in February, 2023 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly misappropriated to your own use certain properties to wit: the aggregate sum of N25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Naira only ) being proceeds for the sale of properties (1) a plot of land on BOTP/33 covered by Right of Occupancy on number BO/42010 and (2) a House on plot number 348 covered by Certificate of Occupancy BO/5285 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State Cap. 102 vol.3 of 1994 respectively.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him, prompting counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed to pray the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till February 28, 2024 for trial and remanded the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
….Arrests Five Internet Fraudsters In Maiduguri
Operatives of Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC , have arrested five (5) suspected internet fraudsters.
They were arrested on Friday, February 9, 2024 at kansho village in the Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue state following actionable intelligence on their suspected involvement in internet – related offences.
The suspects are, Shima Francis, Ode Jesse, Odey Linus, Kingsley Obinna, Emmanuel Inaleguwu.
Items recovered from them are one iPhone and five android phones.
They suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
….Kano Court Jails Two Fraudsters For ATM Fraud
Justices Farouk Lawal Adamu and Abdullahi M. Liman of the Kano State High Court have convicted and sentenced Huseini Suleiman ( a.k.a Khalifa Abba) and Umar Yaú to four years imprisonment for Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card fraud.
They were jailed after pleading guilty to one -count separate charge bordering on cybercrimes.
The charge against Suleman reads ‘’That you HUSAINI SULEMAN (A.K.A. KHALIFA ABBA) on 19th September, 2023 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, used the Guaranty Trust Bank MasterCard belonging to Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi and fraudulently withdrew the sum of N1, 285,000.00 (one million two hundred and eighty five thousand naira) from his Guaranty Trust bank account number: 0020234639 and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (B) of Penal Code and punishable under Section 322 of the same code.’’
The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Lily Jacob-Duke prayed the court to convict him accordingly. However, defence counsel, Salisu Sulaiman prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing the convict “as he is a first time offender”.
Consequently, Justice Adamu convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment or a fine of N250,000. In addition, the defendant was ordered to return to school by the court and he was given a period of 2 years to accomplish the task of acquiring a University degree and the officers of the Correctional facility should be put on notice of the order of the court.
The charge against Yau reads ‘’That you UMAR YA’U on 19th September, 2023 in Kano within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, used the Guaranty Trust Bank Mastercard belonging to Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi and fraudulently withdrew the sum of N1,285,000.00 (one million two Hundred and eighty five thousand naira) from his Guaranty Trust Bank account number: 0020234639 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 33 (1) OF THE CYBERCRIMES (PROHIBITION, PREVENTION, ETC) ACT, 2015 and punishable under SECTION 33 (1) OF THE SAME ACT.’’
The defendant pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him.
Thereafter, Justice Liman convicted and sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment with an option of fine of (N100,000) One Hundred Thousand Naira.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when a petitioner alleged that they swapped an ATM card belonging to one Abubakar Sarki Abdullahi under the guise of trying to assist the owner whom they met at the ATM branch/site and fraudulently withdrew a total sum of (N1,285,000) One Million Two Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira Only from his bank account.
Source: efcc.gov.ng
