The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, January 19,
2016 arraigned one Muhammed Ishaq, a former Zonal Land Manager, Abuja
Municipal Area Council, AMAC, before Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High
Court, sitting in Kubwa, Abuja on an 11-count charge bordering on
criminal conspiracy, forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and
abuse of office to the tune of N5m ( Five Million Naira).
Ishaq,
who is the principal suspect in the alleged fraud had, in 2015,
approached one Ifeanyi Eke, claiming that he owns some plots of land-
MF 45, E 296, E 293, E 295, E294- situated at Apo Extension 111, for
which he was paid N5m by Eke.
One
of the charges reads: ‘‘That you Mohammed Ishaq sometime in 2009 in
Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory did make a false document titled ‘‘Offer of the Terms of
Grant/ Conveyance of Approval’’ dated 16th August, 2006 in respect of
plot No E 296 with reference number OG 44398 situate at Apo Extension
111 purportedly awarded by Abuja Municipal Area Council in the name of
Abiola Adekunle, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an
offence contrary Section 363 Penal Code Law Cap. 532 Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under section 364 of
the same law.''
Another count reads:
“That
you Mohammed Ishaq sometime in 2009 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of
the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did make a false
document titled ‘‘Offer of the Terms of Grant/ Conveyance of Approval’’
dated 16th August, 2006 in respect of plot No MF 45 with reference
number MISC 97162 situate at Apo Extension 111 purportedly awarded by
Abuja Municipal Area Council in the name of Timba Oil & Gas, which
you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 363 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 532 Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under section 364 of the same
law.''
The accused person, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Yetunde Alabi, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
However, the defence counsel, Shaibu Yahaya, prayed the court to grant the accused person bail.
The
prosecution counsel did not object to the motion for bail moved by the
defence counsel on the grounds that the accused person had not jumped
the administrative bail granted him by the Commission.
Consequently,
Justice Kawu granted the accused person bail in the sum of N10m (Ten
Million Naira) with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil
servant not below the level of a deputy director; he must also have a
landed property within Abuja and must produce two recent passport
photographs.
The case was adjourned to February 17, 2016 for commencement of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
19th January, 2016
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