EFCC arraigns man over alleged N2m fraud in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a man, Rufai Abdulkarim, before the Kaduna State High Court over alleged fraud.

Mr Abdulkarim was docked before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna Division on a one-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of funds.

According to the charge, the defendant is accused of dishonestly diverting N2 million belonging to one Timothy Tachio.“That you, Rufai Abdulkarim on or about the 4th of February, 2021, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only), property of one Timothy Tachio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 294 of the same Law,” the charge reads.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Moses Arumemi, asked the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel, Kabiru Mohammed, urged the court to grant bail to the defendant.

After listening to both parties, Justice Khobo adjourned the matter for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.According to the anti-graft agency, the case arose from a petition alleging that the complainant paid the defendant N2 million as part payment for a piece of land valued at N7 million.

The petitioner later discovered that the defendant allegedly diverted the funds for personal use and failed to make a refund.