Mr. Usman is being charged with two counts bordering on conspiracy and obtaining N23.431m by false pretense.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Abdullahi Adamu Usman, also known as “Dan China,” and his company, Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, at the High Court of Plateau State before Justice Yakubu Dakwak on Thursday. Mr. Usman is being charged with two counts bordering on conspiracy and obtaining N23.431m by false pretense.
Mr. Usman allegedly obtained the money from the complainant, Olajide Olaleye, Managing Director of TTMW Service Nigeria Limited, which was intended for the purchase of iron ore and zinc ore for Mr. Usman’s mining company.
According to Mr. Olaleye, who filed the complaint, Mr. Usman became “evasive” after receiving the money.
The first count of the charge reads, “That you Abdullahi Adamu Usman, aka Dan China, being the Director of Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, and Yusuf Ali (still at large) sometime in June, 2011 within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Plateau State did conspire among yourself to commit an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretense and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Prosecuting counsel Aliyu Bokani Usman asked the court for a trial date and pleaded for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.
Gyang Zi, Mr. Usman’s counsel, pleaded the court to grant his client bail.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to Friday, June 10, 2016 to rule on the bail application and ordered Mr. Usman to be remanded in prison custody pending the bail ruling.
The EFCC also arraigned Nannim Tali and James Pwol, both staff of the Ministry of Finance in Plateau State, and Njin Gyara, an employee of the Plateau State Ministry of Health. The three were charged with thirteen counts bordering on theft of N5,050,800.
The suspects allegedly conspired to steal these funds, which were intended for the payment of scholarships to students of the College of Nursing in Jos, the College of Health Technology in Zaman, the College of Health Technology in Pankshin, and the College of Nursing in Vom, Plateau State.
The second count of the charge reads, “That you Nannim N. Tali, Njim Gyara and James Pwol sometime in October, 2007 in Jos within the judicial division of the High Court of Plateau State committed the offence of theft of N36, 400.00 only meant for payment of scholarship to students of School of Nursing, Jos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 286 of the Penal Code punishable under Section 287 of the same code.”
The suspects pleaded not guilty to all charges read to them.
Prosecuting counsel Eunice Daylop asked the court for a trial date, while the defendants’ counsels requested bail for their clients.
Justice Dakwak consequently granted the suspects bail in the sum of N500,000, each with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must have landed properties and must submit documents for verification by the court registrar.
The court adjourned the case to July 26, 2016.
