A Bureau De Change operator, Alhaji Idris Ali, on Monday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how he was defrauded of the total sum of ₦280 million by the managing director of Faru Power Solution Limited, Muhammad Lawal.
Ali made the assertions while being cross-examined as the first prosecution witness (PW-1) by the defence lawyer, Yakubu Philemon (SAN), before Justice Emeka Nwite.
Lawal is being prosecuted on a 20-count charge bordering on allegations of advance fee fraud, among others, amounting to ₦280 million brought against him by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/374/2024 and filed on behalf of the IG by his counsel, Wisdom Madaki, before Justice Nwite, named Lawal as the sole defendant.
In count one, Lawal, a resident of No. 26, Mamman Kontangora, Katampe Extension, Abuja, was alleged to have, sometime in 2024, fraudulently obtained $60,000 from Ali under the pretence of investment in telex copy.
In count two, the suspect was alleged to have fraudulently obtained $50,000 from Ali under the same pretence.
Lawal was also alleged to have dishonestly obtained ₦10 million through account number 1454684547, with the beneficiary account name Faru Power Solution Limited, domiciled in Access Bank Plc, from Ali through a bank transfer under the pretext of telex copy investment.
Lawal was further alleged to have fraudulently obtained ₦40 million in tranches through account number 0826205805, with the account name Sky Ville Company Solution Limited, also domiciled in Access Bank Plc, from Idris through bank transfers under the same pretence.
The offences are contrary to Section 1 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
In count 15, the suspect was alleged to have converted the sum of ₦280 million to himself, “being property derived directly from the proceeds of theft, with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the money, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 and punishable under Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.”
Count 20 accused Lawal of forging a letter of allocation for Block 2B of House No. 26, Mamman Kontagora Road, Abuja.
The suspect was also accused of forging a deed of assignment purported to have been signed by Alhaji Ali Baita.
The offences are contrary to Section 362 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code, among other counts.
Lawal, who was arraigned on July 31, 2024, pleaded not guilty to all the counts and was remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
Although he was admitted to bail of ₦50 million with one surety on August 14, 2024, due to his inability to meet the bail terms, the judge varied the bail conditions on September 12, 2024.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, Ali told the court that some of the funds were transferred into Lawal’s company account and denied paying the ₦280 million through a business associate, Abbas Waziri.
“I make my transactions directly with the defendant, my lord.
“I made some of the transfers directly to his company, Faru Power Solution Limited’s account. That is why my lawyer tendered some of the receipts in court,” he said.
When Philemon asked NAIJAONPOINT if it was correct that he made a statement on 6 June 2024 to the police, admitting to giving Dr Abbas Waziri the ₦280 million, Idris said it was untrue.
When the lawyer showed him one of the two statements admitted as Exhibit B in the case, where Ali was quoted as allegedly saying he gave money to Waziri, NAIJAONPOINT vehemently denied making such a statement.