The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a serving member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Gabriel Saleh Zock, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, following his alleged involvement in criminal charge of advanced fees fraud (a.k.a 419) in the sum of N185 million.
Zock, who represents Kachia Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State in the House, was charged by the EFCC on a 2-count charge of allegedly defrauding his victim to the tune of N185million.
The federal lawmaker was said to have swindled Adeyemi Kamar of the amount under alleged false pretences that he would assist the victim to influence the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT to secure Right of Occupancy (R of O) for his property at Guzape area of Abuja.
But when the charge was read to Zock, he pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The prosecuting EFCC’s lawyer, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, thereafter urged the court to remand Zock in prison, pending the determination of his bail application.
But Zock, who was brought to court from EFCC custody, has no legal representation to make case for the hearing of his bail application before the court.
Justice Halilu Yusuf later appointed Adebara Adeniyi as a lawyer for him for the purpose of arraignment and bail.
But the EFCC’s lawyer raised an objection on the grounds that the bail application was filed on February 9 and was not riped for hearing.
She also argued that she needed time to study and respond to issues raised in the bail application.
Though Adeniyi made oral application for Zock’s temporary freedom with cogent reasons, Justice Yusuf overruled him on the grounds that a written application for bail had already been filed by another lawyer.
Justice Yusuf subsequently directed that Zock should be remanded in the EFCC’s custody and adjourned the matter till February 16 when his bail application would be ripe for hearing.
The count one charge against Zock reads in part “That you, Gabriel Saleh Zock, sometime in 2015 at Abuja with intent to defraud, obtained N150million from Adeyemi Kamar under the false pretence that you will facilitate and obtain title documents (Right of Occupancy) from the Federal Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for a parcel of land at Guzape District, measuring approximately 1 5Ha (Hectare) which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other a Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3 of the same Act.
The second count charge: That you, Gabriel Saleh Zock, sometime in 2015 at Abuja with intent to defraud, obtained N35million from Adeyemi Kamar under the false pretence that you will facilitate and obtain title documents (Right of Occupancy) from the Federal Minister of the Federal Capital Territory for a parcel of land at Guzape District, Cadastral Zone A09, measuring approximately 1,500sqm which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
