Ayuba Sanusi
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arraigned Sunday Ekele, for alleged criminal breach of trust and misappropriation to the tune of Two Million Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Twenty-Nine Naira (N2,930, 029) only.
He was arraigned today (Tuesday, 21 November 2023) before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna on a one-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation.
The lone-count charge reads: “That you, Ekele Sunday sometime in January 2020 in Kaduna within the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court being entrusted with property worth Two Million Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Twenty-Nine Naira (N2,930, 029) only by one Ayobami Oyeleye for the supply of pharmaceutical products which you sold and dishonestly misappropriated the money to your own use in violation of legal contract which you made in regard to the said sum and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 293 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State and punishable under Section 293 of the same Law”.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, E.K Garba applied for a trial date and sought the defendant to be remanded in Kaduna correctional facility.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant, Usman Abdullahi urged the court to grant bail to his client.
After listening to both counsels, Justice Khobo granted the defendant bail in the sum of Two Million Naira only and a surety in like sum.
The surety must own a property in Kaduna with a Certificate of Occupancy which should be verified by the court registrar.
Justice Khobo thereafter adjourned the matter to 25 January 2024 for hearing.
Ekele was arrested based on the claims of a petitioner alleging that, sometime in January 2020, the defendant entered into an agreement to market some pharmaceutical products worth Two Million Nine Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Twenty-Nine Naira (N2, 930, 029) only but failed to remit payment after the products were supplied and efforts to recover the sum or products proved abortive.
Eighteen-Eleven Media