Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court Ikeja remanded one Alhaji Usman Abubakar on Wednesday in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, pending hearing of bail application in the suit brought against him.
The defendants, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, Young Alhaji Foundation and Dr. Abu Omer Fawzi (still at large) were arraigned on Wednesday on a five-count information before the court on allegations bordering on conspiracy, stealing and attempt to steal.
The defendants were alledged to have conspired among themselves to steal from Ano Farms Limited sometimes September 19 and 20, 2022, in within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N950,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only) from Ano Farms Limited under the false pretence that he had the dollar equivalent of the said sum for exchange and which pretence he knew to be false.
According to the charge, in suit number ID/20721C/23 filed by the EFCC, the Commission stated, “That Alhaji Usman Abubakar, Young Alhaji Foundation and Dr. Abu Omer Fawzi (still at large) are charged with the following offences: Statement of offence – 1st count Conspiracy to Obtain By false pretence contrary to section 8(a) and 1(1) of the Advance Fee fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
According to the Commission, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, Young Alhaji Foundation and Dr. Abu Omer Fawzi (at large) sometimes in September, 2022 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to obtain the sum of N950,000,000.00 from Ano Farms Limited under the false pretence that you had the dollar equivalent of the said sum which pretence you knew to be false.
Another of the charge reads, obtaining by false pretence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The defendants, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, Young Alhaji Foundation and Dr. Abu Omer Fawzi (at large) were said to have on or about the 19th of September, 2022 within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N950,000,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only) from Ano Farms Limited under the false pretence that you had the dollar equivalent of the said sum for exchange and which pretence you knew to be false.
The offences contravened Section 411, 280 and 287(9) (c) of The Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. When the charges were read to the defendants, Alhaji Usman Abubakar and Young Alhaji Foundation pleaded not guilty before the court.
Upon his non-guity plea, EFCC counsel, Bilkisu Buhari asked for a short date for trial and remand the defendants to a correctional Centre.
However, counsel for the Defence, Olatunbosun Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court that prison facilities were congested, and that the EFCC had earlier dragged his client to a Federal High Court for a civil charge.
The judge however noted that there is always a room for one at the prison facility, because inmates are being discharged too.
He further informed the court that the commission only rushed to arraign his client before the State High court for a criminal suit when a production warrant for his release was being sought at the FHC.
He told the court that his client has been languishing in the Commission’s custody.
The defence lawyer however asked the court to allow the defendant remain in EFCC custody, while the prosecution asked the court to grant a short date to respond to bail application filed by the defence.
However,the judge has fixed March 1, 2023 for hearing of the bail application.
