The Kano Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, November 18, 2019, arraigned one Abdullahi Tijjani before Justice O.A Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Kano, on a one-count charge of deceiving the Commission with false information.
The
defendant allegedly misled operatives of the Commission by alleging falsely
that a staff of Yankura Branch of Eco Bank Plc, unlawfully withdrew the sum of
N7,200,000 (Seven Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only from his corporate
bank account.
The charge reads that “You Abdullahi Tijjani on or about 15th March, 2019 in
Kano within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud,
misled the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the
course of the exercise of their official duty, by giving false information that
a staff of Yankura Branch of Eco Bank Plc unlawfully withdrew the sum of Seven
Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira, only from your account with the bank with
account name Bawahala Da Yardar Allah Investment Limited and account number
5852011911, which information you knew to be false and thereby committed an
offense contrary to Section 39(2)(a) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 and
punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, prompting prosecution counsel,
Sadiq Hussein to ask the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel
moved an application for his bail.
Justice Egwuatu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million and two
sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter to November 19, 2019 for
commencement of hearing.