The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today August 11, 2021 arraigned Sani Shehu Abdullahi and his company, First Class General Business and Investment Limited alongside Abubakar Mohammed (now at large) before Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja.
The suspects were arraigned on eight count charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of Eighty-four Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-four Thousand Naira (N84, 984,000).
The defendants, sometime in February, 2020 in Abuja, conspired and defrauded Molten Oil and Gas Nigeria limited through a phony contract financing agreement to supply two trucks of 40,000 litres of diesel each, to Ilorin and Kano Airports for the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
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After the products were supplied the defendants raised a cheque In favour of Molten Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited which was returned unpaid due to insufficient funds in the account.
Abdullahi pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Olanrewaju Adeola asked the court for a date and requested that the defendant be remanded at a Correctional Centre.
However, counsel to the defendants, Ohene Chris applied for the defendant to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the EFCC. But the prosecution counsel opposed the application, urging the judge to remand him in prison.
Justice Oriji, a vocational judge, remanded the defendant at Kuje Custodial Centre, even as he indicated that he will forward the case file to the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court for reassignment.
However, he further ruled that the defendant can file his bail application to him or any other vocation judge, pending reassignment of the case.
