Abdullahi Haladu and Kabiru Liman, on October 23, 2023, were charged by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with defrauding Malam Sani Isyak of N1,550,000 (one million, five hundred and fifty thousand naira only) in a land matter before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court.
The two appellants were charged with three counts of revised charges that included acquiring money by deception and conspiracy.
The EFCC made this known via its X account on Friday.
One of the counts, accordingly reads, “That you, Abdullahi Haladu (M) and Kabiru Liman, on or about April, 2021 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, intent to defraud, with intent to defraud, conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act, to: fraudulently obtain the sum of N1,550,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from one Malam Sani Isyak, when you falsely represented yourself as the owners of a plot of land measuring 105×45 FADI, at Mangoron Agwai Sabon Gari Malali, and had the authority to sell same, which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”
The accusations were read to the defendant, and he was said to have pleaded not guilty to the counts. His plea reportedly prompted M. Lawal, the prosecuting attorney, to request a trial date. In addition, he called for the defendant to be placed under detention at Kaduna Correctional Center.
The defense attorney, Charles Ojijiemeh, submitted an oral bail request in the interim. Lawal objected, claiming that the suspect had already violated an administrative bond that the Commission had offered. In addition, he insisted that Ojiji Emeh be made to submit a formal bail application.
After hearing their arguments, Justice Khobo ruled that the suspect be placed under detention in the Kaduna Correctional Center and postponed the case until October 30, 2023, for the hearing of the bail application.