The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, arraigned Asabe Lazarus Dibal before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri over her alleged involvement in criminal misappropriation of N15million.
Asabe is alleged to have converted the said sum meant for payment to the complainant who was defrauded by her son, Nehemiah.
She was said to have collected the money from the complainant but could not pay back as promised. Afterwards, the complainant, defendant and her son through their lawyers signed an agreement to use the 10 vehicles owned by Nehemiah for a ‘‘car hire business’’ and the proceeds derived to pay the complainant monthly until the N15million was fully repaid.
The defendant, who was in custody of the monthly proceeds from the car hire business, however, reneged on her promise of paying the monies derived from the business to the complainant as agreed by all parties.
The one-count charge reads in part: “That you, Asabe Lazarus Dibal, sometimes in 2019 at Maiduguri, Borno State did dishonestly misappropriated the gross sum of N15million only belonging to one Bulus Moses and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State of Nigeria and Punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”
When the charge was read to Asabe, she pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the offence.
The prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Fatsuma Muhammad, asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand Asabe, pending the outcome of the case.
But the lawyer to Asabe, A. M. Balami, urged the court to grant bail to his client.
Having listened to arguments by both parties, Justice Kumaliya granted bail to Asabe.
The judge said, ‘‘The defendant (Asabe) is admitted to bail in the sum of N20m with two sureties in like sum.
‘‘The sureties must be residents of Borno State and one of the sureties must depose an affidavit of ‘means’ to the Registrar of the court and must attend court sittings in company with the Defendant.’’
The judge consequently adjourned the matter till November 11 for commencement of trial.
