The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Mohammed Umar Aji before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri for alleged land fraud.
He was arraigned on a one- count amended charge bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of N25, 000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Naira) by the Maiduguri Zonal Command.
The lone- count read: “That you, Muhammad Umar Aji, sometimes in February, 2023 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly misappropriated to your own use certain properties to wit: the aggregate sum of N25,000,000.00 (Twenty Five Million Naira only ) being proceeds for the sale of properties (1) a plot of land on BOTP/33 covered by Right of Occupancy on number BO/42010 and (2) a House on plot number 348 covered by Certificate of Occupancy BO/5285 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State Cap. 102 vol.3 of 1994 respectively.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him, prompting counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed to pray the court for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till February 28, 2024 for trial and remanded the defendant in a Correctional Centre.