The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on March 21, 2016 arraigned
one Sani Abubakar, and Bishong Obi Akatcha(now at large) before Justice
M.G Umar of the Federal High Court, Gombe on a 3-count charge of
conspiracy, forgery and stealing to the tune of N14,850,000.00 (fourteen
million, eight hundred and fifty thousand naira).
The petitioner Usman Umar Haske had alleged that sometime in February
2009, a fifteen million naira ( N15,000,000) facility was granted to his
company, Haske Duniya Communication Limited by Diamond Bank Plc. Haske
said he is the sole signatory to his company’s account in Diamond Bank,
while Abubakar was a director in the company who deals with the
company's finance, sales and handling of all company documents including
cheques. He alleged that the accused person fraudulently forged his
signature on the company's cheque leaf and withdrew the sum of Fourteen
Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (14,850,000.00) from
the company’s account.
Count one of the charge reads, “that you, Sani Abubakar, sometime in
February 2009 in Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this
Honorable Court did make a false document to wit; a Diamond Bank Plc
cheque No: 17884368 with intent that it be used and acted upon as
genuine for the purpose of making an illegal withdrawal of the sum of
Fourteen Million , Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (14,850,000)
from Diamond Bank Account No:09223000328 being held by Haske Duniya
communication Limited, and thereby committed an offence contrary to
section 465 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Code Act,
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In
view of the plea of the accused, the prosecution counsel Israel Akande
asked the court for a trial date while the defense counsel to the first
accused Saidu Muhammad moved an oral application for the bail of the
accused person. But the prosecution opposed the bail application on the
grounds that he needed time to respond to the application.
Justice Umar adjourned the matter to April 14, 2016 for the hearing of
bail application and remanded the accused in prison custody.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
21st March, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment