By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
Four persons were on Friday araigned before a Federal High Court in Sokoto by the Exconomic Financial Crimes Commission over alleged advance fee fraud totaling N19 million.
The four accused persons who are resident in Sokoto include Jabir Ladan, Sani Musa, Kabir Musa and Aliyu Muhammad.
However, one of them Hassan Sadiq is at large.
They are slamed nine count charges which contravened section 8 sub section ‘A’ of Advance Fee Fraud and other frauds related offences Act.
Between July to Sept. 2018, the accused persons had on different occassions, defrauded one Abdulrazak Muratala of amounts according to the charges sheet.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Muhammad Gambo said they collected the amounts on the pretext to facilitate the release of Murtala’s siezed goods apprehended by men of Nigerian Custom Servece (NCS).
When the charges were read, the accused persons pleaded not guilty denied the charges while Prosecution applied for adjournment to commence trial and enable him produce witnesses.
The Defense Counsel, Mr Yahaya Gwazawa did not objected to the adjornment, however, told the court that he applied for bail of the accused persons.
The trial judge, Justice Saleh Idrissa Kogo, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to March 18, for hearing of bail appliciation filed by Counsel to the accused.
