The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal Office, on Thursday, October 17, 2019 arraigned one Alkasim Rilwanu on a one-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of over N27million before Justice Mohammed Tukur of the State High Court, sitting in Kaduna.
Trouble began for Rilwanu when the Kaduna Zonal Office of the Commission received a petition from Aminu Jafaru, who alleged that sometime in March 2019 the defendant lured him into supplying 1900 (One Thousand Nine Hundred) bags of rice to him at the cost of N12,500 per bag, totaling N23,750,000 (Twenty Three Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, in addition of N3,610,000 ( Three Million, Six Hundred And Ten Thousand Naira) as transportation cost from Mashi- Katsina State at a cost of N190,000 per bus, totalling N27,360,000 with a promise of paying him within one week.
The complainant further alleged that after supplying the rice, the suspect went underground and all efforts to get back his money proved abortive.
The charge reads: โThat you Alkasim Rilwanu, sometime in March, 2019 in Kaduna within the judicial division of this honourable court, entrusted with property to wit; 1900 (one thousand nine hundred) bags of rice valued at N27,360 000 (Twenty seven million, three hundred and sixty thousand naira) by Aminu Jafaru to sell and remit the proceed to him, did sell the goods and dishonestly converted the proceeds to your own use and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 296 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State 2017 and punishable under Section 297 of the same Law.โ
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against him, prompting the prosecuting counsel, Onyeka Ekweozor to ask the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.
Counsel to the defendant Abdullahi Ahmad, however, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail to enable him prepare for his trial.
Justice Tukur granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5million, with one surety in like sum, who must be a public servant on Grade Level 12. The surety must also be a blood relation of the defendant and reside within Kaduna Metropolis.
The case was adjourned till February 12, 2020 for hearing.
