Sophia Michaels
One Abdullahi Haladu has been arraigned by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, over land fraud.
According to a statement released by the Commission on Friday, Haladu conspired with another suspect, Kabiru Liman (at large), to defraud one Sani Isyak of N1,550,000.
The suspects were arraigned on “three-count amended charges bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.”
One of the counts reads, “That you, Abdullahi Haladu (M) and Kabiru Liman, on or about April 2021 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this 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 from one Sani Isyak, when you falsely presented 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 pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence 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 defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him, prompting the prosecuting counsel, M. Lawal, to ask for a trial date. He also prayed that the defendant be remanded at the Kaduna Correctional Centre.
“Meanwhile, defence counsel, Charles Ojijiemeh, made an oral bail application. Lawal objected to it, arguing that the suspect had jumped an administrative bail offered him by the commission. He also demanded that Ojijiemeh be compelled to file a formal bail application.
“Justice Khobo, after listening to their arguments, adjourned the matter till October 30, 2023, for a hearing of bail application and ordered the remand of the suspect in Kaduna Correctional Centre.
“Haladu’s trouble started when he was arrested by operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1,550,000 from a petitioner. The payment was made in respect of a plot of land. He neither offered the land to the petitioner nor returned his money to him.”
