The Sokoto Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has arraigned the duo of Jamilu Nabunkari and Bashar Sani before Justice Mohammed Mohammed of the Sokoto State High Court for obtaining the sum of N2,900,000.00 (Two Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) fraudulently in a land fraud.

 

They were arraigned on two- count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence.

Count one reads "That you Jamilu Nabunkari adult,male, and Bashar Sani adult, male, on or about the 31st day of May, 2023 at Sokoto within the Judicial Division of this honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit: Obtaining the total sum of N2,900,000.00 (Two Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira) from Lawali Tukur Faru under false pretence of sale of a plot of land and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related (Offences) Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

 

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the two -count charges.

 

Prosecution counsel,  S.H. Sa'ad then prayed the court for commencement of trial while defence counsel A.M Lukman applied for bail for the defendant.

 

In a ruling, Justice Mohammed granted the defendants bail in the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) each and one surety in like sum that must be resident in Sokoto. The Judge further directed the sureties to deposit their recent passport photographs with the registry of the court and adjourned the matter to 2nd April, 2024 for commencement of trial.

 

The duo allegedly fraudulently advertised a plot of land situated behind Sani Dingyadi School Sokoto for sale and the petitioner indicated interest and paid the sum into the suspects bank account number.

 

Investigations revealed the first suspect Nabunkari posed as the owner of the plot while the second suspect Sani presented himself as the land agent.