The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Abubakar Dandare, a Registrar of the Upper Sharia Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, for alleged forgery and misappropriation of a dead man’s N3.8 million.
The EFCC Counsel, Mr Peter Attah, told the court that Dandare committed the offence on Dec. 4, 2012.
He said the defendant while being entrusted with the N3.8 million retention fee paid by the Zamfara Ministry of Finance for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada, dishonestly misappropriated the money.
The EFCC said that the offence of criminal breach of trust is contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code CAP 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and is punishable under Section 312 of the same law.
Attah also alleged that Dandare forged the signature of Mada on the Court Cash Deposit register of the court with intent to misappropriate the money.
The offence, the prosecution said, is contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code CAP 89 Laws of the Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under Section 364 of the same law.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Bello Umar, observed that the laws in which the accused was arraigned before the court were all repealed following the passage of the Zamfara 2022 Penal Code.
He therefore prayed the court to dismiss the case.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Bello Shinkafi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum.
The judge also ordered that the sureties must deposit two passport photos and their phone numbers with the court.
He adjourned the case until June 6, 2024 for further mention.
