COURT REMANDS SPIRIT IN PRISON FOR STEALING N20M

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned one Mohammed Yusuf Dabo before Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State on 11-count charge of obtaining N20 million under false pretence and forgery.

Dabo is said to have defrauded one Ya’u Mohammed of N20 million in a classic Advance Fee fraud scheme.

The fraudster, posing as a spirit named ‘Asmau’, based in Niger Republic, convinced his victim into believing that the mystery female voice had powers to establish schools and mosques to propagate Islam but needed a human vessel through which this could be achieved.

He left the victim with no choice but to accept the offer of becoming the human vessel after threatening him that he would die without carrying out the assignment successfully.

The accused person began to extort his victim and used the money to buy exotic cars and acquire a mansion in the Red Bricks Area of Kano State.

The accused pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him.

The prosecution counsel, B.M Buhari asked the court for permission to proceed with the trial but the defence counsel, B.M Muqaddam urged the court to admit his client to bail on the grounds of ill health.

However, Buhari opposed the application on the grounds that the medical reports attached to the bail application were not certified.

The presiding judge agreed with the prosecution and refused the bail application. He ordered the prosecution to call his first witness.

The case was adjourned to 12th and 13th June, 2013 for continuation of trial, while the accused was remanded in prison custody.