The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, arraigned the duo of Auwalu Ila-Sokoto and Nasiru Manjo before Justice Goodluck of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Maitama, Abuja on a 2-count charge of criminal conversion of property and issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N12.8million.
Ila-Sokoto, who is the alter ego of Lalle Global Ventures, allegedly issued a dud cheque
sometime in April 2016, to one Fahad Shazad Bhutta, the complainant,
after a failed agreement on the purchase of two Toyota cars - 2015 and
2016 model.
Under the agreement, Bhutta delivered the two cars and
was issued two United Bank for Africa (UBA) cheques dated 27th April,
2016 and 4th May, 2016 by Ila-Sokoto in the sum of N5million and
N7.8million respectively with instructions to the bank to transfer the
specified sums from his company’s account to Bhutta’s account.
However, the cheques were returned unpaid by the bank and complainant
was asked to contact the defendant, who acted indifferently despite
several attempts to resolve the issue amiably.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you, Auwalu Ila Sokoto, being a Director of Lalle Global Ventures
Nig. Ltd, Nasiru Manjo and Lalle Global Ventures Nig Ltd on or about
the 16th of April, 2016 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the
High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory did agree among
yourselves to do an illegal act to wit, cheating, and thereby committed
an offence punishable under Section 96 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of their plea, Benjamin Lawan Manji, counsel to EFCC, asked for
a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in prison
custody pending trial.
But, Yusurf Musa, representing the
defendants, informed the court of a pending application dated February
13, 2017 praying the court to admit the defendants to bail.
Justice
Goodluck granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1million each with
two sureties. The sureties must be civil servants not below salary Grade
Level 14 currently serving in any of the Federal Government parastatals
in Abuja.
The international passports of the defendants are to be
deposited with the court registrar pending the conclusion of the trail.
The case has been adjourned to May 9 and 16, 2017 for commencement of trial.
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