The Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Zakariyau Yahaya before Justice Benjamin Manji of High Court 9 of the Adamawa State High Court, Yola on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Yahaya faced charges of criminal misappropriation and obtaining the sum of N67,080,000.00 (Sixty-Seven Million, Eighty Thousand Naira) under false pretenses.
The charge against Yahaya stated that he allegedly converted the sum of N67,080,000.00 meant for the purchase of cotton seeds, belonging to Alhaji Umar Zuhairu, to his own use. The charge was filed under Section 300 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State 2018.
During the arraignment, Yahaya pleaded not guilty to the charges presented in Hausa language. Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, M.O Tijani, requested a speedy trial and urged the court to remand the defendant at a Correctional Centre. In response, the defense counsel, Johnson Altajir, informed the judge of a bail application already submitted to the court.
Justice Manji scheduled the hearing of the bail application for March 11, 2024, and set April 8 and 9 for the commencement of the trial. Additionally, he ordered the remand of the defendant at a Correctional Centre pending further legal proceedings.
Yahaya’s arrest stemmed from allegations of obtaining the sum of N67,080,000.00 from a petitioner under false pretenses for the supply of cotton seeds and maize. However, he allegedly failed to fulfill his end of the agreement by neither supplying the products nor returning the money to the petitioner.
The case highlights the EFCC’s continued efforts to combat financial crimes and ensure accountability in Nigeria. With the arraignment of Yahaya, the commission seeks to uphold the rule of law and protect the interests of individuals who fall victim to fraudulent schemes.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the court will carefully examine the evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense counsels to determine Yahaya’s culpability in the alleged offenses.
