Fraudsters Remanded In Prison Custody For N12.2 Million Scam. Photo

e Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Gombe office today, June 27, 2018, arraigned the duo of Alhaji Bello Isah and Alhaji Abdullahi Usman before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High Court on a four count charge bordering on Conspiracy, Forgery and Obtaining by false pretence.

The defendants were arrested at Alkaleri Check Point, 80 kilometres away from Gombe on Bauchi Road by officers of the 33 Artllery, Nigeria Army Corps Artillery, Shadawanka Barracks, Bauchi based on the Intelligence report received from DSS, Gombe State Command.

They were handed over to EFCC Gombe office for further investigation.

It was alleged that the first defendant, Abdullahi Usman who held from Adamawa state, conspired with the second defendant and approached one of the popular stores in Gombe, FUSAHA STORES and told the owner, MUSTAPHA SALEN MAINA, under the Pretext to buy goods in large quantities and presented himself as an elite from Adamawa state and promised to help the victim in his business.

With intent to defraud, the first defendant was able to convinced Mustapha Salen Maina, the victim did obtained goods from the stores like Gezina, ready-made Agbada, lace materials, wrappers, native caps, assorted perfumes, shoes, wrist watches, recharge cards and handsets which amounted to Ten Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Naira only (N10, 435,000.00) as well as Five Thousand USD ($5000) equivalent to Nigerian currency at the prevailing rate of N367 per dollar making the sum of N1, 835,000.00 under the false Pretence of purchasing the properties.


From the purchase point, the duo sneaked into their car with all the goods and drove to Alkaleri on their way to Bauchi trying to escape with the goods before they were arrested.

Count one of the charge read “That you, ABDULLAHI USMAN AND BELLO ISAH sometimes in May, 2018 at Gombe, Gombe State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did agree among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: conspiracy to obtain properties from one MUSTAPHA SALEH MAINA of Fusaha Stores, Gombe under false Pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

When the charge were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charge; following which the prosecution counsel, A. Y. Muntaka requested for a two clear days to open and close his case.

Though the defence counsel, I. A. Wokdung, applied for the bail of his clients orally, but the presiding Judge who said his court is a court of records told the defence counsel to come formally with tje bail application of his client.

While adjourning the case to 9th July, 2018 for hearing, Justice Jauro remanded the defendants in prison custody till the next adjourned date.