Alleged N1.3m scam: Court remands Sokoto commodity board director

A Federal High Court in Sokoto on Wednesday ordered that a Director in the Sokoto State Commodity Board, Hassan Bello, be remanded in correction centre for alleged N1.3 million employment scam.

Justice Ahmad Mahmud, gave the order following a not guilty plea to advance free fraud entered by Bello.

Mahmud adjourned the case until Oct. 4, for hearing in the bail application as well as trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Prosecution Counsel, Mr Hannafi Sa'ad, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in Aug. 2021.

Bello, who is the Director of Administration in the board was said to have collected the money from Aliyu Adamu-Tsaki, Yusuf Abubakar and Yahaya Salihu at the presence of Dahiru Muhammad in Sokoto.

The EFCC alleged that the defendant presented false letters to the victims which were later discovered to be fake and non existent.

The Defence Counsel, Mr Aminu Mustapha, filed a motion for bail on the behalf of his client .

The EFCC counsel prayed for time to respond to the application on grounds that he was only served in court.