The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Abdullahi Haladu 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 (One Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
The suspect was 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, 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.
The defendant counsel, Charles Ojijiemeh, made an oral bail application which Lawal objected to, arguing that the suspect had jumped an administrative bail offered to 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 30th of October, 2023, for a hearing of bail application and ordered the remand of the suspect in Kaduna Correctional Centre.