EFCC Arraigns BDC Operator In Kano For Alleged N30m Fraud

A Bereau De Change (BDC) Operator, Aminu Ibrahim Idris, accused of N30m fraud, has been arraigned before Justice Lawan Wada of Kano State High Court on four-count charges, bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining money under false pretence.

Wada was arraigned by the Kano Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Count One of the charge read: “That you, Aminu Ibrahim Idris on or about the 8th October, 2018 in Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, while being entrusted with certain property to wit: the sum of N2 million (Two Million Naira) by one Yahuza Muhammad Garba of No 957 Kofar Mazugal, Kano, through your First City Monument Bank PLC account No: 5220531010 for the purchase of United States Dollars equivalent did commit criminal breach of trust by dishonestly converting the said sum to your own use and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.”

EFCC statement issued on Thursday said, prosecution counsel, Michael Ojo, applied for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), after he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel, Abdulhadi Ali applied for his bail.

Justice Wada granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million (Ten Million Naira) with two reliable sureties in like sum.  One of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12, while the other must present a bank statement of account indicating a credit balance of not less than N10 million. The two sureties must also depose to an affidavit of means, submit two recent passport photographs, and means of identification to the court.

The case was adjourned till August 24, 2020 for trial.

“Trouble started for the defendant following  a petition received by the Kano Zonal Office of the commission in which the complainant alleged that sometime in October 2018, the defendant fraudulently deceived him and collected the sum of N30,350,000.00 (Thirty Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from him under the guise of exchanging same to dollar equivalent within a period of two days. While he failed to deliver, he ensured that all efforts to make him refund the money proved abortive,” EFCC said.