15th January, 2016
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on January 15, arraigned a former Chairman of Kaduna South LGA, Bala Isa Idris before Justice Tukur Mu’azu of Kaduna State High Court on one count charge that borders on advance fee fraud.
The accused allegedly obtained the sum of N3,000,000 from one Alhaji Bashir Ahmed when he fraudulent sold a plot of land belonging to the council, situated at Mechanic village, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna State to him with the false claim that he had the authority to dispose the piece of land.
Count one of the charge reads, “that you Bala Isa Idris sometime in 2013 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice, Kaduna being the Kaduna South Local Government chairman with the intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N3, 000,000.00 from one Alhaji Bashir Ahmad under the pretence that you had the authority to dispose off a piece of land belonging to the Kaduna South Local Government measuring 0.0628 hectares situated at Mechanic village, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna South Local Government, Kaduna state which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under same Act.
The accused pleaded not guilty to charge read and was granted bail in the sum of N 1, 000, 000 and one surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil servant not below grade level 12.
The case was adjourned to March 10, 2016 for commencement of trial.