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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned four defendants before Justice Muhammad Maina of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri for alleged N50 million fraud.
The defendants who were arraigned on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, include Alhaji Mala Gana, Babagana Maru, Ahmadu Sale, and Mohammed Kolo Nuhu.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, they were arraigned on separate count charges bordering on criminal misappropriation and breach of trust to an aggregate sum of N50,030,000 (Fifty Million Thirty Thousand Naira only).
The charge against Nuhu reads: “That you, Mohammed Kolo Nuhu and Kolomi Global Link Nigeria Limited sometime in September 2022 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, misappropriated and converted for your own use the sum of N18,900,000.00 (Eighteen Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) only belonging to one Mohammad Baba Shettima given to you by a Non- governmental Organisation, Action Against Hunger and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State (Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994) respectively.”
Maru’s charge reads: “That you Babagana Maru, sometime in 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit; N8,500,000.00 (Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) by Imam Manu Dauda being advance payment for the purchase of tricycles did dishonestly misappropriated the entire sum of N8,500,000.00 (Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 102 Laws of Borno State and punishable under section 312 of the same law.”
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The defendants pleaded not guilty to their separate charges when they were read to them.
Counsel to the prosecution, S.O Saka and Faruku Muhammad prayed the court for trial dates and the remand of the defendants in the Correctional Centre.
Maru’s counsel, Z.M. Umaru applied orally for the bail of his client.
Justice Maina thereafter admitted Maru to bail in the sum of N10m with two sureties in the like sum. One of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant or a traditional title holder.
The cases were adjourned to 26 April 2025 for commencement of trial and all the defendants were remanded in Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Center.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
