One Awwal Tahir was on Wednesday docked before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence which were the offences brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Comission, Kaduna zone.
According to the statement by the anti-graft agency, Mr Awwal Tahir journey to the dock began when his victim, Umar Sani Galadima petitioned the Commission alleging that sometime in 2014 he paid him N2 million for plots of land, which he never provided.
After receiving the money through his company, InterLand Skills Nigeria Limited, Mr Awwal Tahir could not provide documents to show the existence of the plots of land for which he was paid for. All efforts to get the money back also proved abortive.
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Awwal Tahir, the Managing Director of InterLand Skills Ltd and Interland Skills sometime in January 2014 in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N2 million only from Umar Sani Galadima under false pretence that you have two plots of land for sale situated at National Eye Centre Kaduna, a claim you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the Same Act.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Counsel for the EFCC, E.K. Garba asked the court to fix a date for commencement of trial, and urged the court to remand him in prison.
Counsel for the defendant, J.S. Kure, however, urged the court to grant his client bail.
While not opposing the bail application, Garba urged the court to “impose strict bail terms” on the defendant.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Khobo granted him bail in the sum of N1 million and a surety in like sum, who must be a public servant not below Grade Level 13.
The case has been adjourned to March 26, 2019 for “hearing”.