Salisu Suleiman, Managing Director of Faris Construction Company Limited, stands accused of misappropriating N21 million worth of diesel fuel, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Suleiman was arraigned on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, before Justice Hadiza Suleiman of the Kano State High Court in Kano.
“That you, Salisu Suleiman, being the Managing Director of Faris Construction Company Limited and Faris Construction Company Limited on or about 15th June 2021 in Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N21,000,000 being payment for the supply of 125,000 liters of Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, to your construction site in Nguru Local Government, Yobe State by SID Oil and Gas Limited, and you thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.” The singular charge states
Suleiman pleaded not guilty, leading the prosecution counsel, Aisha Tahar Habib, to request a trial date. The defense counsel, Mardiyya Alasan Dawaki, applied for bail. Habib opposed the bail application, citing the defendant’s previous breach of an administrative bail granted by the EFCC.
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Justice Suleiman ordered the defendant’s remand in EFCC’s custody and scheduled a hearing on the bail application.
The allegations involve Suleiman receiving 125,000 liters of Automotive Gas Oil on credit from the petitioner, S.I.D Oil and Gas Limited, worth N21,000,000. Suleiman purportedly promised to pay upon receiving payment from the Yobe State Government for the supply.
However, after receiving payment from the Yobe State Government, Suleiman allegedly lied to the petitioner, claiming he had not received any payment. EFCC investigations uncovered that Suleiman had been paid by the Yobe State Government long before but misappropriated and diverted the funds for personal use.
(EFCC)