The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Rufai Abdulkarim before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court over an alleged N2 million fraud. 

The agency disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Mr Abdulkarim was docked on a one-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of funds.

The charge reads: “That you, Rufai Abdulkarim on or about the 4th of February, 2021, in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only), property of one Timothy Tachio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 294 of the same Law.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Moses Arumemi, requested a trial date, while defence counsel, Kabiru Mohammed, urged the court to grant the defendant bail.

After hearing both parties, Mr Khobo adjourned the matter for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.

The case follows a petition alleging that the defendant received N2 million as part payment for a piece of land valued at N7 million, but allegedly diverted the money for personal use and refused to refund the complainant