The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Kogi State New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) House of Assembly candidate for Ankpa II Constituency, Ismaila Atumeyi Yousuf, before the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos State.
Ismaila was arraigned on 18 counts alongside two others in connection with alleged N1.4bn bank fraud.
The other two defendants are Abdulmalik Salau, a former bank employee, and Ngene Joshua Dominic.
The EFCC, in the first count, alleged that former bank employee Abdulmalik Salau, between August and October 2022, without lawful authority, directly caused modification of the data held in the network of Union Bank PLC, leading to the transfer of N1.4 billion to the account of FAV Oil & Gas Ltd and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition Prevention Act of 2015.
In another count, the three defendants were said to have conspired to conceal the N1.4 billion in the account of Fav Oil and Gas Limited.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on Monday, during their arraignment, told Justice Ringim Tijjani that the offences border on concealment of proceeds of fraud, cybercrime and money laundering.
The defendants were specifically accused of laundering the sum in tranches of $480,000, N100 million, N12.5 million, N9 million, N7 million, N7m, N12m, N8m, $140,000 and N326,400,000.
They were also alleged to have acquired a series of cars including N12.5 million black Mercedes Benz C300, N9 million Black Range Rover, N7 million BMW 3 series, N7 million Toyota Hilux 2014 upgraded to 2021, N8 million White Toyota Hilux 2010, N10 million White Toyota Hilux and N12 million Black BMW SURXI 2016.
Also, the court heard that the defendants directly transferred N80 million to Frank Maya Integrated Ventures, acquired a property known as N0 8, Grace Crescent, Efab Queens Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja, and concealed N326,400,000 and $140,000 in a Black Escalade SUV.
Each of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the counts.
Justice Ringim adjourned the case for ruling on the bail application.
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