The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri
Zonal Command, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, arraigned the duo of Haruna Gora
Pama and Kadiri James, before Justice Tijjani G. Ringim of the Federal High
Court, Maiduguri.
They were arraigned on two-count charges of money laundering and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N36, 247, 937.72 (Thirty Six
Million, Two Hundred and Forty Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Seven
Naira, Seventy-two kobo).
Count one of the charge reads: "That you, Haruna Gora
Pama, Kadiri James and Peter Katuka, Freedom, Monday Ekoja George, Abdulmajid
Khamis, and David Potter (all now at large) sometimes in June 2022, at Maiduguri,
Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire
amongst yourselves to do illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money
laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under
Section 21 of the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (as
amended) respectively.”
Count two reads: “That you, Haruna Gora Pama, Kadiri James
and Peter Katuka, Freedom, Monday Ekoja George, Abdulmajid Khamis and David
Potter (all now at large) sometimes in June 2022, at Maiduguri, Borno State
within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, directly converted the
aggregate sum of N 36, 247, 937. 72 (Thirty Six Million, Two Hundred and Forty
Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Seventy-two kobo) which
you ought to know that it formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act to wit:
obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary
to and punishable under Section 18(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention
and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same
Act."
The defendants pleaded "not guilty" to the charges
when they were read to them. Thereafter, prosecution counsel, Faruk Muhammad
prayed the court for a trial date and for them to be remanded in a Correctional
Centre.
Justice Ringim remanded them in a Correctional Centre and
adjourned the matter till February 1, 2024 for trial.
