The Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned Surajo Shehu and Zubairu Bello before Justice M. Tukur of the State High Court, Kaduna on a three-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.
Their journey to the dock began when a petitioner alleged that in January 2018, he purchased a land at Estu Road from the owner who got the land through the legal allocation done by the Kaduna State Government during sale of state-owned houses.
According to the petitioner, he transferred N35million to Surajo being a staff of the Kaduna State Property Development Agency to help pay on his behalf. However, Surajo paid N25million to the state government and diverted the balance of N10million.
But, the petitioner was informed that the sum of N 25million only was paid to the Kaduna State Government. He later found out that the balance of N 10million was diverted by Surajo to personal use.
Again Surajo took advantage of the petitioner to dupe him by intimating of another house located at Isa Kaita Road valued at N15million. The petitioner transferred N10million to him, but upon sighting the property, he discovered that it was not worth the price, and demanded the money be returned.
However, Surajo only returned N9.7million taking possession of the balance of N300,000. In all he defrauded the petitioner of N10.3million and efforts to recover the money proved abortive.
Count one of the charges against them reads: “That you, Sirajo “M” and Zubairu Bello “M” both staff of Kaduna State Property Development Agency, sometime in January 2018, in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with property to wit: the total sum of N 10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) by one Dr. Abbas Waziri through his company TAV Premier Global Consulting Service Ltd to Pay Premium levy to Kaduna State Government on Sale of Houses of a plot situated at No. 5 Estu Road Kaduna did dishonestly misappropriate the sum by converting same to your personal use and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Penal Code Lawof Kaduna State, 2017 and punishable under Section 294 of the same Law.”
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Counsel for the EFCC, Y.J. Matiayak, thereafter, urged the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.
Defence counsel, Suleiman Yusuf, however, made an oral application for the bail of his clients.
The prayer for bail was however declined by the trial judge, who ordered the counsel to make a formal application for bail, considering the crime involved.
The defendants have been ordered to remain in prison till October 31, 2019 for hearing of their bail application.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
July 29, 2019
