EFCC Arraigns Businessman For N6.8million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office on Wednesday, Febuary 5, 2020 arraigned one Aminu Dan Manya before Justice Isah Muhammad Bargaja of the Sokoto State High Court on a three-count charge bordering on Obtaining Money by False Pretence to the tune of Six Million Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N6,840,000.00).

Dan Manya’s trouble started when the Commission received a petition against by the complainant, alleging that sometimes in July 2018, the defendant approached him and presented some samples of goods (Cigarettes-Oris and Cartons of soap EVA) which he said was in a Lorry transported to Sokoto, based on that assurance, there was a bargain and he transferred the sum Six Million Eight Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N6,840,000) but he neither received the goods nor his money refunded.

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Count one reads: “That you, Aminu Dan Manya sometime in July, 2019 at Sokoto, within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud did obtained the sum of N4,850,000 (Four Million Eight and Fifty Thousand Naira) from one Alhaji Aminu Abubakar Ismail when you falsely represented yourself as a business man capable of supplying him with EVA branded soap and showed him samples which you said were where house, a pretence which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) same Act.”

He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel M. M Gwani asked for a date for trial to commence and urged the court to remand the defendant in Correctional Facility.

Responding, defence counsel, Shamsu A. Dauda prayed the court to grant his client bail on the grounds that the defendant was faithful to the administrative bail granted him by the prosecution and he also had credible sureties.

Justice Bargaja granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2, 000, 000 (Two Million Naira), with one surety in like sum. The surety must have a means of livelihood, and should swear an affidavit of means, and alternatively the surety must be a Civil Servant not below grade level 14 with the service of State or Federal Government.

The case has been adjourned to February 11, 2020 for trial and the defendant is to be remanded pending the perfection of his bail condition.