The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Salisu Suleiman, the Managing Director of Faris Construction Company Limited and his company on one-count charge of misappropriation of funds to the tune of N21million.
He was arraigned on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 before Justice Hadiza Suleiman of the Kano State High Court sitting in Kano.
The lone count charge reads: “That you, Salisu Suleiman being the Managing Director of Faris Construction Company Limited and Faris Construction Company Limited on or about 15th June 2021 in Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N21,000,000 being payment for the supply of 125,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil , AGO, to your construction site in Nguru Local Government, Yobe State by SID Oil and Gas Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.”
When the charge was read to Suleiman, he pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The development prompted the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Aisha Tahar Habib, to pray the court for a trial date.
But the defence lawyer, Mardiyya Alasan Dawaki informed the court about the pending bail application of his client and urged the court to admit him to bail.
But the EFCC’s lawyer opposed the bail application on the grounds that the defendant had jumped an administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
Justice Suleiman later remanded the defendant in EFCC’s custody and adjourned for hearing of the bail application.
Suleiman allegedly received 125,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, diesel, on credit from the petitioner, S.I.D Oil and Gas Limited worth N21million on the grounds that he will pay upon receipt of payment from Yobe State Government for the supply.
He, however, breached the promise after the Yobe State Government had paid him, preferring to lie that he had received no payment from the state government. The petitioner suspected foul play and petitioned the EFCC.
Investigations revealed that the defendant had been paid by the Yobe State Government a long time ago, but misappropriated and diverted the money entirely for his personal use.
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