An Abuja High Court on Tuesday remanded the son of former Kogi State governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, Mustapha, in Kuje prison over an alleged N18 million scam.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC arraigned him and his wife Zahrah M. Audu, along with their company, Constructor Guild Limited before Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar for allegedly obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N18 million.
One of the counts in the charge against the accused persons read, “That you Mustapha Audu, Zahra M. Audu in your capacity as Directors of Constructors Guild Limited and you Constructors Guild Limited on or about the 7th day of January 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court obtained the sum of three million naira from one Nike Kolawole under the pretence of helping her to get a four bedroom townhouse at Ruskin Terrace situate at Katampe Extension Abuja which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3)of the same act.”
The accused persons who pleaded not guilty to the three count charge were alleged to have falsely obtained the money in their capacity as directors in the said company from one Nike kolawole under the pretence that they would get her a four- bedroom house at Katampe Extension, Abuja; and another property at Caemly Estate, Idu Sabo, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Following their plea, their counsel, Kingsley Akpokona moved a motion for bail on behalf of his clients, but was opposed by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Samuel Ugwuegbulam who prayed the court for time to respond to the application.
While consenting to the prosecution’s request for time to respond to the application for bail, Justice Umar remanded the first accused, Mustapha Audu in Kuje prison but allowed the second accused person, Zahrah M. Audu to continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted her.
The case has been adjourned till Thursday February 28, 2013 for hearing of the bail application.
