The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Office on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 arraigned one Hassan Abubakar, before Honourable Justice Abubakar Jauro of the State High Court 9, on a two-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy.
Trouble started for Abubakar sometime in April, 2019 when the EFCC received a petition written against him by one Abubakar Suleman in respect of criminal breach of trust. Suleman had alleged that he paid the sum of N1,040,000.00 (One Million and Forty Thousand Naira), only to the defendant for investing in rice farming in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State. But, instead, the defendant connived with one Jamilu Abubakar (now at large) dishonestly converted the amount to their personal use.
Investigation by the EFCC on the matter pointed to the commission of the said offence by the defendant.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you Hassan Abubakar (a.k.a Zakiru) and Jamilu Abubakar (now at large) sometime in December 2017 or thereabout at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire between yourselves to commit an offence to wit you converted the sum of N1,040,000.00 (One Million and Forty Thousand Naira) only to your personal use, being property of one Abubakar Suleiman and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96(1)(a) and punishable under Section 97(2) of the Penal Code Law.”
The accused person pleaded not guilty to all the charges. In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel Mr. Z. Muhammad, prayed the court for a trial date and that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.
Justice Jauro adjourned the matter to June 24, 2019 and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.