A 40-year-old trader, Ahmed Haruna, on Thursday appeared before a Kaduna High Court over an alleged N14 million rice supply fraud.
Haruna is standing trial on a one-count charge bordering on fraud, preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate.
The prosecution counsel, Mr K.C. James, told the court that sometime in 2025 in Kaduna, the defendant received the sum of N14 million from one Aminu Abdulrahman for the supply of rice, which he allegedly failed to deliver.
James submitted that the defendant converted the said sum to his personal use and that all efforts made by the complainant to recover the money proved abortive.
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offence contravenes Section 308 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017, which prescribes a term of imprisonment of up to five years upon conviction.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In his ruling, the judge, Justice Darius Khobo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum.
Khobo held that the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and provide evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.
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The judge further directed that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant.
The case was adjourned until May 30 for hearing.
(NAN)
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