EFCC operatives

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned a suspect, Bashir Ishaq-Bashir in an FCT High Court, Maitama for false pretence and cheating.

Also arraigned alongside with him were his three companies, Leda Greenpower Consortium, Leda Greenpower Nigeria Limited and Leda Consortium Limited.

He was arraigned on a three-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and cheating to the tune of 1 million dollars.

Ishaq-Bashir was alleged to have collected the said money from Althani Investments Company Limited as part payment of 3 million dollars agreement.

The suspect was alleged to have collected the money for the purpose of forming a consortium with Althani Investments Company Limited to bid for shares at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KDC).

However, the bidding failed and several attempts made by Althani Investments Company Limited for a refund of the money was not successful.

The accused pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him.

Prosecution counsel, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, thereafter, asked for a trial date.

Responding, counsel to the defendant, A.B. Anachebe, applied for his bail application.

Ezekiel, however, opposed the application, arguing that “the defendant if granted bail will interfere with the prosecution witnesses”.

He argued that the application was not proper in the sense that the defence only mentioned the name of the first defendant without reference to the second, third and fourth defendants.

Justice S.E. Aladetoyinbo granted bail to the accused in the sum of N2 million and one surety in like sum.

Aladetoyinbo said that the surety must be a resident in Abuja and had a landed property.

However, Aladetoyinbo adjourned the case till April 10, 2017 for hearing. (NAN)