Two men charged for fraud

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August 14, 2015 5:43 AM

Yazidu Abdullahi and Auwal Aliyu have been arraigned before Justice Rabi Umar of the Bauchi State High Court for allegedly defrauding a house buyer, Alhaji Inuwa Garkuwa, Punch reports.

EFCC Logo.

The duo was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on five counts bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretences.

The accused, who are believed to belong to a syndicate, allegedly committed the crime using forged documents at Fadaman Mada, Bauchi State.

The suspects allegedly used the forged documents to sell the uncompleted house on a plot of land to Garkuwa for N780,000. The buyer reportedly discovered that the building belonged to one Abubakar.

Garkuwa subsequently reported the matter to officials of the EFCC, who arrested and arraigned the accused.

The charges read in part, ‘‘That you, Auwal Aliyu, Yazidu Abdullahi, and others at large, Haruna Abdulmumin and Sadiq Shehu sometime in the month of June, 2015, in Bauchi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court ,with the intent to defraud, committed an illegal act to wit: giving a forged certificate of grant of Right of Occupancy, No: BA/28150 to Alhaji Inuwa Garkuwa as proof of title to land you fraudulently sold to him at Fadaman Mada Bauchi.”

The anti-graft agency said the offences were contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law, Law of Northern Nigeria.

The suspects, however, pleaded not guilty.

Following their plea, prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, prayed the court for a trial date.

Umar ordered the suspects to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned hearing on the matter till August 20, 2015.

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