A Businessman named Umar Aji has been arraigned before Justice Nehizena Apolabi of the Federal High Court in Gombe State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Gombe Zonal Office on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the statement by EFCC, One Yahaya Umar Barambu, the nominal complainant of the case alleged that sometimes in July 2017, he was introduced to the defendant Umar Aji by a friend, Alhaji Lawal Bala for a Madrid Timber business in Taraba State which they agreed.
Afterwards, he paid the sum of N34 million in tranches of N10 million, N11 million, N9 million and N4 million into the Fidelity Bank account of one Iliyasu Bello under the instruction of Umar Aji with an agreement of profit sharing ratio of two-thirds for him, and one-third for Umar Aji.
However, after striking the business deal, Aji began to give various excuses for defaulting and later became incommunicado.
The count reads:
“That you, Alhaji Umar Aji, also known as Alhaji Tailor sometime in July, 2017 in Gombe, Gombe State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N34,000,000 (Thirty Four Million Naira) from Alhaji Yahaya Umar Barambu through one Iliyasu Bello Abubakar by falsely representing that the said sum was to be utilized for Madrid Timber business on behalf of Yahaya Umar Barambu which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
Prosecuting counsel, S.E. Okemini, thereafter, prayed the court for a date for trial.
Defence counsel, Y.P. Malum, moved an oral application, for the bail of his client, which was objected to by the Okemini, who argued that “the court is a court of records, and so there is a need for a formal application”. While adjourning the case to March 27, 2019, for “hearing”. Justice Afolabi ordered that the defendant is remanded in prison.