The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 arraigned
one Aliyu Muhammad Wapa of Makwarari Quarters of Municipal Local Government,
Kano State before Justice Faruk Lawan of the State High Court, Kano on one
count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence.
Wapa,
while parading himself as International Air Transport Association Agent, allegedly
collected the sum of N500,000 (five hundred thousand naira) from one Hajiya
Umma Aliyu of Yakasai as payment for lesser Hajj (Umrah) with a written agreement
that, the visa would be issued to her within 14 days.
The
suspect, however, failed to deliver on the terms of the agreement, and it was
later discovered that, he was not a registered travel agent with the National
Hajj Commission.
Efforts
of the victim to recover his money were unsuccessful.
The
charge reads:
“That
you, Aliyu Muhammad Wapa on or about 15th March, 2015 at Kano within
the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kano State, with intent to defraud
obtained the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only from one
Hajiya Umma Aliyu for which you acknowledged receiving using the Receipt of
your registered Business Name (Al-Majmuatul Khairiyya international Ventures )
under the pretence that you would secure Umrah Visa (lesser Hajj) for her which
pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 1 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act
2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
The
accused pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In
view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, B. M. Buhari urged the court to fix a date
for hearing.
However,
Justice Lawal granted the accused on bail in the sum of N500, 000.00 (five
hundred thousand naira) and one surety in like sum. The surety must have landed
property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The
case has been adjourned to adjourned April 7, 2016 for trial.
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