The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has arraigned the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Staff with Disabilities Cooperative Society, Alhaji Iliasu Abdulrauf before an Abuja High Court over his involvement in alleged N1.126 fraud.
The EFCC on Thursday, preferred a six count charge against Abdulrauf before Justice Sylvanus Oriji but he pleaded not guilty.
The defendant was said to have between November 2017 to February 2018,in Abuja with intent to defraud, obtained the gross sum of N508,528,000( Five Hundred and Eight Million,Five Hundred and Twenty- Eight Thousand Naira) only, from the Managing Director,Wanori Investment and Properties Ltd,under the false pretence of awarding contracts to establish a Rehabilitation Center for Persons With Disabilities
He was also alleged to have deceived the MD of the same company to pay for Corporate Social Responsibility and Insurance bond to enable his company access mobilisation for the contract all of which are offences committed contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act,2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The Prosecution Counsel, Steve Oduase had prayed the court to remand the Defendant in custody of a Correctional Center until his trial, he was however admitted to N20 million bail by Justice Oriji with condition to produce two sureties,one of whom must be verified by both the Court’s Registrar and Prosecution Counsel.
The Court also barred the Defendant from travelling out of the country without permission and held that in the event that he was unable to fulfill the bail conditions, he should be remanded in custody of the EFCC
The Judge thereafter adjourned the case to December 15 ,2020 and January 25,2021 for trial.
