EFCC Arraigns Man For N20m Car Auction Fraud In Maiduguri

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri zonal office has arraigned one Modu Ali Kotoko before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on one count charge of obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of twenty million naira.

Kotoko allegedly collected the sum from one Abubakar Girgiri on the pretext he would finance the purchase of cars on sale by auction.

The victim had transferred the money before he discovered that the so-called auction was a hoax.

The charge reads: “That you Modu Ali Kotoko sometime in December, 2019 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000.00) from Mohammed Abubakar Girgiri, which you falsely claimed the money is to finance the auction of cars, a claim you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contracts to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of same Act.”

However, the defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.

The prosecution counsel, Fatsuma Mohammed, subsequently asked the court for a trial date and, to remand the defendant pending the determination of the case.

The counsel to the defendant, Abdulwasiu Alfa, pleaded with the court for a short date to file a bail application.

Justice Kumaliya adjourned the matter till February 3 and 9, 2021 for commencement of trial.