EFCC Arraigns Man For N19m Fraud In Maiduguri

The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, arraigned one Muhammad Abdullahi Kulloma and Mbuta Criterion Nigerian Limited before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on a two-count charge of obtaining Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N19, 950,000) by false pretence.

The defendant fraudulently collected the sum from one Abdulwahad Abba Aji as payment for a contract awarded the second defendant to supply water pumps to Norwegian Refugee Council, a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Count two read: “that you Muhammad Abdullahi Kulloma sometime in August, 2020 in Maiduguri Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced one Abdulwahad Abba Aji to deliver to you the sum of Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N19,950,000.00) only via your Mbuta Criterion Nig. Ltd Company accounts domiciled in GTBank Plc under the false pretence of executing a contract for the supply of water pumps awarded by Norwegian Refugee Council, a Non-Governmental Organisation which fact you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(1) (b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

The defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

Counsel for the prosecution, Alqasim Ja’afar asked for a trial date and the remand of the defendant.

Justice Fadawu ordered the remand of the defendant in Maiduguri Medium Custodial Centre and adjourned till March 30, 2022, for hearing.