BY Fredrick Nwabufo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned one Bashir Ishaq Bashir before S E Aladetoyinbo, justice of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, Maitama, on a three-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and cheating to the tune of $1m.
According to a statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, Bashir allegedly collected the said sum as part payment of a $3m agreement from Althani Investments Company Limited for the purpose of forming a consortium to bid for shares at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company.
The bidding failed and several attempts made by the company for a refund of the money proved abortive.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.
Rimamsomte Ezekiel, the prosecution counsel, thereafter asked for a trial date.
Responding, AB Anachebe (SAN), counsel to the defendant, moved the motion for his bail application.
But Ezekiel opposed the application, arguing that “the defendant if granted bail will interfere with prosecution witnesses”.
He argued that the application was not proper in the sense that the defence only mentioned the name of the first defendant without reference to the second, third and fourth defendants.
Aladetoyinbo, while adjourning to April 10, 2017 for hearing granted him bail in the sum of N2m and one surety in like some. The surety must be resident in Abuja and must have landed property.
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