EFCC Arraigns Woman over N35M Fraud in Kano

Matilda Omonaiye/

A woman was arraigned today by anti-graft agents in Kano over alleged diversion and misappropriation of N35million collected for a business venture.

According to operatives at the Kano Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Asiya Bala Aliyu was arraigned before Honorable Justice RA Sadiq of the Kano State High Court on a two-count charge of Misappropriation of Funds.

The defendant allegedly collected the sum of N35million from a complainant identified as Hadiza Inna Sanusi under the guise that the money would go into a scheme known as Galaxy Investment Package, but she allegedly misappropriated and diverted it to her personal use.

Count one of the charge reads: “You Asiya Bala Aliyu sometime between May and August 2018 with intent to defraud, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N35,000,000 (Thirty-Five Million Naira) only belonging to one Hadiza Inna Sanusi and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 and punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Law.“

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.

Prosecution counsel, Musa Isah, asked the court for a trial date in view of the plea of the defendant.

Counsel representing the defendant, Khalid Kashim Njidda, moved bail application for his client. Isah opposed the application and requested the court for an adjournment to enable him to file a counter-affidavit.

Consequently, the defence counsel prayed the Court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody.

Again, Isah opposed the prayer and Justice Sadiq upheld his objection.

Justice Sadiq remanded the defendant in correctional service and adjourned the matter to March 12, 2020, for hearing of the bail application and March 19, 2020, for the commencement of trial.

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