The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 arraigned one Abdullahi Kokari before Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on a 15-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and forgery.
Abdullahi allegedly induced one Babagana Chiroma to pay the sum of nine million, seven hundred thousand naira (N9, 700, 000: 00) into separate bank accounts for the supply of sundry litres of petroleum products.
According to the complainant, Abdullahi allegedly presented himself to him (Babagana Chiroma) sometimes in November, 2012 as a dealer in Petroleum products and various transactions were entered into for the supply of about One hundred and forty three thousand (143,000) liters of AGO and Condensed Oil. Payments were duly made through separate bank accounts domiciled in Zenith and First Bank respectively.
Since then, Abdullahi neither supplied the products nor return the money paid to him.
One of the counts reads, “that you Abdullahi Kokari, on or about the 2nd day of October, 2012 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, induced one Babagana Chiroma to pay the sum of Three Million naira (N3,000, 000,00) into the account of Jeremiah Godwill domiciled at Zenith Bank Plc under the false pretence that you were going to supply 40,000 litres of AGO which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Another counts reads, “that you Abdullahi Kokari, on or about the 6th day of March, 2013 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, induced one Babagana Chiroma to pay the sum of Five Million naira (N5,000, 000,00) into the account of Musa Haruna Michika domiciled at First Bank Plc under the false pretence that you were going to supply 70,000 litres of AGO which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Deborah Ademu-Eteh urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody while praying for a date for the commencement of trial. Responding, the defence counsel, C. M Oyiboka urged the court to admit his client to bail
Justice Akanbi granted bail to the accused in the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N500, 000.00) and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be recognized member of the Hausa Community and their addresses must be verified by the court Registrar.
The case has been adjourned to February 17, 2014 for commencement of trial.
