On Monday, Fatima Muhammad was brought before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, also known as the EFCC.
An eight-count allegation alleging that the defendant obtained money by false pretence and criminal misappropriation to the amount of N 15,250,000.00 (Fifteen Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) was brought against the defendant during the arraignment process.
The charges partly read, “That you Fatima Muhammad (a.k.a Fatima Modu Chol Chol), on or about the 5th day of August, 2021, in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did with intent to defraud obtain the sum of N4,200,000.00 (Four Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira) only from Umar Faruq Kyari through account number 1408030233 with account name; Alhaji Mai Zanna domiciled with Access Bank under the guise that the said money was for business of buying and selling of carpets and wrappers, the pretence which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a)& (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Law.”
With the accusations being read to her, the defendant entered a plea of not guilty. In the next moments, the attorney for the prosecution, Faruku Muhammad, pleaded for a trial date. He also pleaded for the defendant to be remanded to a correctional facility.
Justice Kumaliya then detained the defendant in a correctional facility. And postponed the beginning of the trial to Monday, March 17, 2025.
The trial was scheduled to begin on that day. When Muhammad was accused of obtaining the sum of N15,250,000.00 from a petitioner. For the purpose of starting a business that deals in the sale and purchase of rugs, wrappers, and textile materials, the trial then began.
The petitioner did neither receive the money back, nor did he carry out the transaction that was requested of him.