One Mustapha Usman a Hajj fare collector for the Damaturu Local Government Area, of Yobe State, was on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N2.6 million.
The Hajj fare collector Mustapha Usman was arraigned before Justice Garba Nabaruma of the Yobe State High Court sitting in Damaturu, on a one-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust.
According to the Anti-Graft Agency, Mustapha Usman’s journey to the dock started when the Commission received a petition written against him alleging that he misappropriated the sum of N2.6 million while he was appointed as the Hajj Fare Collector in Yobe State.
The said sum was meant for intending pilgrims who paid through him. He is, however, being accused of diverting the money to his personal use.
The count against Mustapha Usman reads:
“That you, Mustapha B. Usman, sometimes in 2017 at Damaturu, Yobe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in your capacity as the Hajj Fare Collector of Damaturu Local Government Council, Damaturu, Yobe state, while entrusted with properties (monies) of intending pilgrims to the tune of N2,600,505.00 (Two Million Six Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Five Naira) dishonestly misappropriated the proprieties (monies) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Law of Yobe State.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
Counsel for the EFCC, Mukhtar Ahmed, prayed the court for a trial date.
Counsel for the defence, A.A Shehu, made an oral application for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution.
Thereafter, Justice Nabaruma adjourned the case to May 27, 2019, for the commencement of trial and ordered that he should be remanded in prison.