Story by Iyiola Ayomide
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned four persons before Justice Muhammad Maina of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri over alleged involvement in N50million fraud.
The defendants are Mohammed Kolo Nuhu, Babagana Maru, Ahmadu Sale, and Alhaji Mala Gana.
They were arraigned on separate count charges bordering on criminal misappropriation and breach of trust to an aggregate sum of N50,030,000.
The charge against Nuhu reads: “That you, Mohammed Kolo Nuhu and Kolomi Global Link Nigeria Limited sometime in September, 2022 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, misappropriated and converted for your own use the sum of N18,900,000.00 only belonging to one Mohammad Baba Shettima given to you by a Non- governmental Organisation, Action Against Hunger and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State (Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994) respectively.”
Maru’s charge reads: “That you Babagana Maru, sometime in 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit; N8,500,000.00 by Imam Manu Dauda being advance payment for the purchase of tricycles did dishonestly misappropriated the entire sum of N8,500,000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State and punishable under section 312 of the same law.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to their separate charges when they were read to them in the court.
Counsel to the prosecution, S.O Saka and Faruku Muhammad prayed the court for trial dates and the remand of the defendants in the Correctional Centre.
Maru’s counsel, Z.M Umaru applied orally for the bail of his client.
Justice Maina thereafter admitted Maru to bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties in the like sum, saying that one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant or a traditional title holder.
The cases were adjourned till April 26, 2025 for commencement of trial and all the defendants were remanded in Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Center.