Sabo Sani Labaran: obtained N242,000 from a contractor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2016 arraigned one Sabo Sani Labaran before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High Court sitting in Gombe, on a 2-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N242,000.

The offence is contrary to Section 1 sub-section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 sub-section 3 of the same Act.

The accused person, who is a member of an Internet syndicate had, sometime in October 2015, allegedly obtained N242, 000 from one Alhaji Hussaini Mai- Magani, promising that he would award him a contract for the supply of some hospital equipment.

However, the suspect, whose Facebook profile bears the picture of the Gombe State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, allegedly diverted the money for personal use.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Ahmad Y. Muntaqa, asked the court for a trial date.

The defence counsel, Rahimat I. Talle, prayed the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.

Consequently, Justice Jauro adjourned till February 8, 2016 for hearing on the bail application and ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.

In another case of fraud, the EFCC arraigned the duo of Festus Ozemoya and Isaac Ozemoya before Justice G. B. Briki-Okolisi of the State High Court sitting in Effurun, Delta State on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy, issuance of dud cheque and obtaining by false pretence N17million .

The petitioner, Jane Alabi alleged that, Festus Ozemoya (the 1st accused person) approached her sometime in April, 2014 to solicit funds to finance a project he allegedly secured with Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for installation of pumps at Oziegbe Flow Station in Koko, Delta State.

According to Alabi, the accused was advanced the sum of N12million with an agreement that the said sum would be refunded within seven months.

The petitioner further alleged that, the 1st accused person introduced Isaac Ozemoya (the 2nd accused person) to her as his business partner who also secured a contract with NPDC.
Using the same modus operandi, the accused person again swindled the complainant to the tune N12million naira (twelve million naira).

The victim consequently petitioned the EFCC after efforts to get her money refunded were unsuccessful.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Sadiq Hussaini, urged the court to fix a date to commence trial.

However, the defence counsel, A. U. Shakaru prayed the court to admit the accused persons to bail pending trial.

Justice Briki-Okolosi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N5million each, and two sureties in sum of N2.5million each. The sureties must be residents within the Jurisdiction and must have landed properties which must be verified by the court registrar. The sureties must also depose to affidavit of means with two recent passports.

The case has been adjourned to March 16, 2016 for trial while the accused persons are to be remanded in prison custody until their bail conditions are met.