The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday arraigned a former Zonal Land Manager of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Muhammed Ishaq, before Justice Bello Kawu of the FCT High Court in Kubwa, Abuja, on an 11-count charge of criminal conspiracy, forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and alleged N5 million fraud.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Ishaq committed the offence last year.
He said Ishaq, who is the principal suspect in the alleged fraud approached Ifeanyi Eke, claiming he owned some plots – MF 45, E 296, E 293, E 295, E294- at Apo Extension 111, for which he was paid N5 million by Eke.
Some of the charges read: ‘‘That you Mohammed Ishaq sometime in 2009 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did make a false document, titled: ‘‘Offer of the Terms of Grant/Conveyance of Approval’’ dated August 16, 2006, in respect of plot No. E296, with reference No. OG 44398 situated at Apo Extension 111, purportedly awarded by Abuja Municipal Area Council in the name of Abiola Adekunle, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under Section 364 of the same law.’’
“That you Mohammed Ishaq sometime in 2009 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did make a false document, titled: ‘‘Offer of the Terms of Grant/Conveyance of Approval’’ dated August 16, 2006, in respect of Plot MF45 with reference number MISC 97162 situated at Apo Extension 111, purportedly awarded by Abuja Municipal Area Council in the name of Timba Oil & Gas, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Law Cap. 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990, and punishable under Section 364 of the same law.’’
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel Yetunde Alabi urged the court to fix a date for trial.
However, defence counsel Shaibu Yahaya prayed the court to grant the accused bail.
The prosecution counsel did not object to the motion for bail moved by the defence counsel on the grounds that the accused had not jumped the administrative bail granted to him by the commission.
Consequently, Justice Kawu granted the accused bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum.
He said the surety must be a civil servant not below the level of a deputy director; he must have a landed property within Abuja and must produce two recent passport photographs.
The case was adjourned to February 17 for trial.