Nigeria: EFCC Arraigns Bureau de Change Operator for $100K Fraud in Maiduguri

A Bureau de Change Operator in Maiduguri, Bukar Mohammed, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Justice Aisha Kumaliya’s Borno State High Court on a one-count charge of obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N43.3 million (about $100K).

The defendant allegedly converted the money entrusted in his custody for safe keeping to his own personal use.

The charge brought against him read: ‘‘That you, Bukar Mohammed sometime in 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced one Alhaji Ali Mohammed to deliver to you monies in Euros and Naira to the equivalent sum of Forty Three Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Eight Thousand Naira (N43, 328, 000.00) only, under the false pretence of collecting same for safe keeping which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.’’

The defendant subsequently pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.

Prosecution counsel, Fatsuma Muhammed asked the court to remand the defendant in prison custody and fix a date for trial to commence.

Justice Kumaliya adjourned the matter till September 14, 2021 for commencement of trial and ordered the defendant remanded in the correctional facility.

Michael Olugbode in Maiduguri

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