Justice Aisha Kumaliya of Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri Wednesday remanded Barrister Hussaini Mohammed Hussaini, a legal practitioner correctional centre following his arraignment on a one-count charge of land fraud to the tune of Four Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N4, 200, 000.00) only.
The defendant allegedly swindled the nominal complainant over the sale of two plots of land which he claimed he had the owners’ instruction to sell.
However, an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed that the defendant was neither a custodian of the land nor acquainted with the owner.
The charge reads: ‘‘That you, Hussaini M. Hussaini sometime in September 2021 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced Suleiman Abiodun by deceiving him to deliver the total sum of Four Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N4, 200, 000.00), being money allegedly for the payment of two plots of land measuring 200 ft by 100 ft lying and situated at 44G Damboa Road, between Federal Road Safety Office and Federal Metro Radio Station, via Bank transfer from his Zenith Bank account number 2083694059 to account number 2119265725 domiciled at UBA, with account name; Alhassan Sanusi, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of Penal Code Law Cap 102, Laws of Borno State 1994 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.’’
The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty to the charge
Upon his plea, prosecution counsel, Fatsuma Mohammed asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the Correctional Centre. An attempt by counsel to the defendant, Ernest Bayo, to move an oral bail application for his client was refused as Justice Kumaliya insisted that bail application must be filed and served on all parties including the court before his prayer could be heard.
She adjourned the matter till January 17, 2022, for commencement of trial.
