COURT ADJOURNS THE ALLEGED FINANCIAL MISAPPROPRIATION CASE OF KANO BUSINESSMAN
The Justice of a Federal high court in Kano, Muhammad Nasir Yunusa
has adjourned the case filed against the business mogul, Abdulkarim Abdulsalam Zaura to 2nd May 2023, for a pre-trial over the alleged financial misappropriation.
Mr. Zaura is the Kano central senatorial candidate APC party at the just concluded elections which is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge bothering on advance fee fraud.
However, an alleged criminal conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of $1.3 million was slammed on the defendant sometime in 2014 by one Dr. Jamman Al-Azmi which was also reopened by the EFCC.
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The prosecutor brought it to notice that the offense contravened the provision of section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
At the appearance of the defendant for arraignment on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Aisha Habib, disclosed to the court a modification of charges against him. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the offenses leveled against him.
Thereupon, the defense counsel, Isiyaka Dikko (SAN), demanded the court to acknowledge the defendant's bail but objected by EFCC counsel instead requesting the court to remand the defendant in custody.
Hence, Justice Yunusa overruled the prosecuting counsel stating bail is a constitutional right under section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, that a defendant shall be presumed innocent until he or she is found guilty. And therefore, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100 million and one surety in like sum.
The matter has been adjourned to May 2, for the commencement of pre-trial.
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