The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 25, 2019, arraigned one Bilyaminu Musa Mohammed on a two- count charge for alleged issuance of dud cheque and criminal breach of trust. He was arraigned before Hon. Justice Babangida Hassan of FCT High Court Jabi.
Mohammed was alleged to have sometimes in 2015, converted the sum N3,750,000 (Three Million, Seven Hundred And Fifty Thousand Naira) only, property of Global Trust Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, to personal use and later issued a cheque of the said amount, which was returned unpaid due to insufficient fund in his account.
The charges were read to the accused. Count one of the charges reads: “That you Bilyaminu Musa Mohammed on or about the 30th of March, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court without sufficient funds to your credit, issued a Guarantee Trust Bank Plc cheque No. 68583731/00002031 dated the 30th March, 2016 in the sum of 3,750,000.00 (Three Million, Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Naira, Only) in favour of Global Trust Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, which upon presentation was returned unpaid and thereby committed an offence wit: Issuance Dud Cheque contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act Cap D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1 (1) (b) (i) of the same Act”.
The defendant, however, pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him.
Prosecution counsel, Jude Obozuwa, asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
But the defence counsel, Ismaila Alhassan, told the court that he has a bail application before the court and urged the court to grant his client bail.
The prosecution, however, told the court that he had just been served the bail application adding that he needed time to reply.
The matter was adjourned to March 28, 2019, for ruling on the bail application while the suspect is to remain in EFCC custody pending determination of bail.