The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal Office, on March 10, 2020 arraigned one Muhammed Yusuf before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on a one-count charge for criminal misappropriation.
His journey to the dock began after Hussaini Yusuf, petitioned the EFCC accusing Yusuf of defrauding him of N4.8million in a business deal they both agreed to. He alleged that he supplied Yusuf with a trailer load of Spaghetti (Dangote brand) worth N8,600,000 to enable the defendant execute a contract for the Bauchi State school feeding programme.
Investigation conducted by the EFCC revealed that shortly after the execution of the said contract, Yusuf refused to pay Hussaini a balance of N4.8million, even after been fully paid for the contract.
The count reads: “That you, Muhammed Abdullahi Yusuf sometime in October 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit; a trailer load of Spaghetti (Dangote Brand) worth N8,600,000.00 (Eight Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira) by Hussaini Yusuf of Ibrahus Enterprises being supply for the execution of contract for school feeding in Bauchi State, did dishonestly misappropriate the sum of N4,800,000.00 (Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) out of the said value of the trailer load of Spaghetti and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 102 of Borno State of Nigeria, and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
In view of his plea, counsel for the EFCC, H. Inusa asked the court for a date to commence trial, in order for the prosecution to prove its case against the defendant.
Defence counsel, B.G. Mustapha, however, made an oral application for the bail of the defendant, citing his health condition, and equally prayed for his remand in the EFCC.
While adjourning to March 25, 2020 for commencement of trial, Justice Fadawu ordered that he should be remanded in the EFCC.