- Safiu Kehinde
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Rufai Abdulkarim before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna Division over alleged land fraud.
Abdulkareem was arraigned on a one-count charge, bordering on criminal misappropriation of funds.
He was alleged to have misappropriated N2 million paid to him by one Timothy Tachio.
The charge as contained in a statement issued on the EFCC’s official X hanlde reads: “That you, Rufai Abdulkarim on or about the 4th of February, 2021, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only), property of one Timothy Tachio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 294 of the same Law.”
The defendant however pleaded not guilty following which the prosecuting counsel, Moses Arumemi asked the court for a trial date.
In reaction, the defence counsel, Kabiru Mohammed, urged the court to grant the defendant bail.
Justice Darius, after listening to both counsel, adjourned for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC’s custody.
The defendant’s way to the dock opened when a petitioner alleged that he paid the defendant the sum of N2 million as a part payment for a piece of land, worth N7million, but soon discovered that he diverted the money to his personal use and further refused to make a refund to him.