- By Femi Alabi
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic has dragged
Mokawo Ahmed Yakubu and Chibuzor Okpara before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N35,000,000.00 (Thirty-Five Million Naira).
According to EFCC on its Official X handle, the duo allegedly lured one Alhaji Tukur Yuguda, to deliver to them the sum of N35million under the pretence that they will supply to him five pieces of Howo Truck, Two Howo single head and other accessories.
Yuguda who sent a petitioned to EFCC found out that he was defrauded after making payments and all efforts made to recover the money from the defendants proved abortive.
One of the counts reads; “That you, Mokawo Ahmed Yakubu, Chibuzor Okpara and Obinna Magnus Amadi (At large) on 3rd November, 2022 in Owerri, Imo State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, induced one Alhaji Tukur Yuguda to deliver to you the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) under the pretence that you will supply to him (Alhaji Tulur Yuguda) five pieces of Howo Truck, Two Howo single head and other accessories which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
They defendants pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them. In view of their pleas, Nuradeen Shehu Ingawa, Counsel to the EFCC prayed the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case and for the defendants to be remanded at the Correctional facility.
The defence counsel, Arinze Anyigo, however prayed the court to remand the defendants at the EFCC’s facility.
Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the matter to March 6, 2024 for hearing of bail application. The defendants were remanded at the EFCC’s facility.