The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 arraigned one Bashir Salihu before Justice M. Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja on a 2-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and issuance of dud cheque.
Salihu allegedly obtained the sum of sixteen million naira (N16m) as loan from one Ramatu A Isiaq for the construction of perimeter fence of Niger Delta Science, Technology and Bio Industrial Park in Sagbama, Bayelsa State. The accused is said to have promised to repay the loan with interest within three months but failed to do so. All efforts to recover the money proved futile.
Count one reads, “that you, Bashir Salihu, sometime in July, 2011 within the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory being entrusted with the sum of N16,000,000.00 (Sixteen Million Naira) only belonging to one Ramatu A Isiaq to use the said money to execute the perimeter fencing of the Niger Delta Science, Technology and Bio Industrial Park in Sagbama, Bayelsa State, dishonestly converted to your own use thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 312 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 312 of the same Penal Code”.
The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Best Ojukwu asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and to remand the accused person in prison custody. However, the defence counsel, E.O Abadaki told the court that he had filed an application for bail pursuant to section 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended. But the prosecution counsel objected to the application, saying that she was only served in court and would need time to respond.
Justice M. Talba ordered the accused to be remanded in the Kuje Prison, while adjourning the case to July 22, 2014 for hearing of the bail application, and September 16, 2014 for the commencement of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
15th July, 2014