XAVIER NDAH
The Gombe Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Alhaji Umar Aji before Justice Nehizena Apolabi of the Federal High Court, Gombe State on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
Yahaya Umar Barambu, the nominal complainant of the case alleged that sometimes in July 2017, he was introduced to the defendant 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 Aji with an agreement of profit sharing ratio of two-third for him, and one-third for Aji.
However, after striking the business deal, Aji began to give various excuses for defaulting, and later became incommunicado.
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 need for a formal application”.
While adjourning the case to March 27, 2019 for “hearing”, Justice Afolabi ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison.
