A man, Rufai Abdulkarim, has been brought before the Kaduna State High Court over an alleged fraud involving ₦2 million.
The case, initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was filed at the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the agency, leading to his arraignment before Justice Darius Khobo.
Abdulkarim is facing a one-count charge of criminal misappropriation of funds. The charge states: “That you, Rufai Abdulkarim on or about the 4th of February, 2021, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only), property of one Timothy Tachio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 294 of the same Law.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the allegation.
Following his plea, prosecuting counsel, Moses Arumemi, asked the court to fix a date for trial. Defence counsel, Kabiru Mohammed, appealed for bail on behalf of the defendant.
After hearing both sides, Justice Khobo reserved ruling on the bail request and directed that Abdulkarim be kept in the custody of the EFCC pending the decision.
The matter stemmed from a petition in which the complainant alleged that he paid the defendant ₦2 million as part payment for a plot of land valued at ₦7 million. The petitioner later claimed that the money was diverted for personal use, with no refund made.