by Rachel Ogbu
We will have to set aside our professional obligation to keep a straight face on this one: a fraudster posing as a spirit was arrested recently for obtaining N20 million under false pretense and forgery.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) yesterday, arraigned Mohammed Yusuf Dabo before Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State on an 11-count charge but Dabo pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Dabo was said to have approached a man called Ya’u Mohammed as a spirit named ‘Asmau’, and told him that the mystery female voice had powers to establish schools and mosques to propagate Islam but needed a human vessel through which this could be achieved.
Somehow with trickery and threats, he made the victim believe that he would die without carrying out the assignment successfully, the deceit led Dabo to N20 million in a classic Advance Fee fraud scheme over a period of time.
According to reports, Dabo used the money to buy exotic cars and acquire a mansion in the Red Bricks Area of Kano State.
The prosecution counsel, B.M Buhari asked the court for permission to proceed with the trial but the defence counsel, B.M Muqaddam urged the court to admit his client to bail on the grounds of ill health.
However, Buhari opposed the application on the grounds that the medical reports attached to the bail application were not certified.
The presiding judge agreed with the prosecution and refused the bail application. He ordered the prosecution to call his first witness.
The case was adjourned to 12th and 13th June, 2013 for continuation of trial, while the accused was remanded in prison custody.
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