The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former registrar of the Upper Shari’a Court, Samaru Gusau, Abubakar Dandare, before Zamfara State High Court 1 over alleged N3.874 million fraud.
Dandare was arraigned before Justice Bello Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court 1 in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital for two count court charges.
The defendant, who was the registrar of Upper Shari’a Court 1 in Samaru Gusau at some point in December 2012, has been accused of misappropriating the sum of N3,874,634.46, which was a retention fee paid by the Ministry of Finance, Zamfara State, for the family of the late Alhaji Ladan Mada.
The second count accuses the defendant of forging Aminu Ladan Mada’s signature on the court cash deposit register around December 4th, 2012, in Gusau within the jurisdiction of Zamfara State’s High Court of Justice.
The defendant, serving as the registrar of Upper Shari’a Court 1 in Samaru Gusau at the time, allegedly did this with the intention of embezzling N3,837,634.46 in retention fees.
However, at the hearing of the case, the EFCC counsel, Mr Peter Attah said that, the accused person has committed an offence of criminal breach of trust contrary to section 311 of the penal code CAP 89 laws of northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under section 312 of the same law.
Similarly, the count charge 2, said the accused person also committed the offence of forgery contrary to section 363 of the penal code CAP 89 laws of northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under section 364 of the same law.
In his submission, the defendant’s counsel, Barrister Bello Umar said the laws they are talking about were not exist,and they can’t continue under non- existing laws.
He told the court to admit the defendant to bail as he had been granted administrative bail already by the EFCC operatives.
But the EFCC counsel also informed the court that he filed a counter-affidavit to oppose the bail application.
After listening to both counsels, the presiding judge, Justice Bello Shinkafi, released Dandare on bail under the condition that he must bring two residents of Gusau along with two passports and phone numbers.
Similarly, he must deposit five million naira to the court registrar. The next court proceedings are scheduled for 06/06/2024.
COV/ SANI DUTSINMA
