Tunde Bakare
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 3, 2025 arraigned one Fatima Muhammad before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.
The defendant was arraigned on an eight -count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N 15,250,000.00( Fifteen Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only)
Count two of the charge read: “That you Fatima Muhammad (a.k.a Fatima Modu Chol Chol), on or about the 5th day of August, 2021, in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did with intent to defraud obtain the sum of N4,200,000.00 (Four Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only from Umar Faruq Kyari through account number 1408030233 with account name; Alhaji Mai Zanna domiciled with Access Bank under the guise that the said money was for business of buying and selling of carpets and wrappers, the pretence which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a)& (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Law.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to her. Thereafter, prosecution counsel Faruku Muhammad prayed for a trial date and for the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned till Monday, March 17, 2025 for the commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in a Correctional Centre
Muhammad’s trial began when he allegedly obtained the sum of N15, 250,000.00 from a petitioner for the business of selling and buying rugs, wrappers and textile materials. He neither carried out the business nor returned the money to the petitioner.