The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has arraigned a staff of the Nigeria Revenue Service, NRS Aliyu Bala Umar and a staff of a new generation commercial bank over alleged fraud of over three hundred and thirty six million naira at the Federal High Court Lafia.
During the arraignment in lafia, nine count charge were labelled against the accused ranging from fraudulent, taking of money to financial cyber fraud among others.
The EFCC Prosecuting Counsel Uwaisu Yusuf told the court that between march and september 2021 , Aliyu Bala Umar fraudulently took various sums of money totalling three hundred and thirty six million four hundred thousand naira from one Mallam Ishaku Danladi Abari, a retired permanent secretary from the nasarawa state civil service who had ventured into business to make ends meet.
He explained that, the money was to facilitate a contract which his purported company, Bamo Value Integrated Services Limited had secured to supply five million of fifty kg bags of rice for a period of two years valued at over two hundred billion naira to an organisation named United Nations Rescue Services, which was later discovered to be a non-existence firm.
The EFCC Counsel Uwaisu Yusuf stated that following investigation, the accused, Aliyu Bala Umar connived with one Ambrose Idama, a staff of a first generation bank and authorized a letter to transfer the sum of one hundred million naira from his account to another bank of the account of a non-existing organisation, Prowess Energy Limited.
The Presiding Judge, Mobolaji Olubukola Olajuwon after hearing to the matter granted bail for Aliyu Bala Umar who is representing the first and second defendants to the sum of one hundred and fifty million naira each with two sureties each with landed property valued at more than the bail sums located either in Abuja or Nasarawa State.
The third defendant, Ambrose Idama was also granted bail for the sum of one hundred million naira and two sureties who are closed relations with landed properties either in Abuja or Nasarawa State.
The sureties are to fulfil certain conditions including evidence of tax payments for three years, two recent passport photographs and deposit original document of the landed properties in the court.
The accused are to remain in the Custodial Centres pending when they meet their bail conditions.
Meanwhile, Counsel to the first and second defendants Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu described the ruling of the court as satisfactory, noting that they will work towards meeting up with the bail conditions to secure the release of his client from the custody.
The case was adjourned to the second of march this year for hearing.
COV/Aliyu Muraki/Lafia.
