The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Rufai Abdulkarim before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna Division for fraud.

He is being prosecuted on a one-count charge, bordering on criminal misappropriation of funds.

The charge reads: “That you, Rufai Abdulkarim on or about the 4th of February, 2021, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only), property of one Timothy Tachio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 294 of the same Law.”

He pleaded “not guilty” following which the prosecuting counsel, Moses Arumemi asked the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel, Kabiru Mohammed, urged the court to grant the defendant bail.

Justice Darius,  after listening to both counsel,  adjourned for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC’s custody.

The defendant’s way to the dock opened  when a petitioner alleged that he paid the defendant the sum of ₦2 million as a part payment for a piece of land, worth ₦7million, but soon discovered that he diverted the money to his personal use and further refused to make a refund to him.