The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned one Bello Muhammad Kaloma (a.k.a Muhammad Auwal) before Justice Aminu Garba of the Bauchi Federal High Court, Bauchi State.
The defendant was arraigned on a four -count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence and money laundering to the tune of Six Million, One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira (N6, 160,000.00) by fraud.
Count one reads: “That you Bello Muhammad Kaloma (a.k.a Muhammad Auwal) “M” on or about the 23rd day of April, 2025 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the aggregate sum of Five Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N5,700,000.00) via electronic transfer from MB Modi Logistics Nigeria Ltd, a Company belonging to one Musa Umar Ibrahim to your personal account Bello Muhammad Kaloma, account Number 2179366014 domiciled in First City Monument Bank (FCMB) under the false pretence that the said sum is for the purchase of an auctioned Tractor by the Executive Chairman of Ganjuwa Local Government Area, a pretext knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 20006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when it was read to him and counsel for the prosecution, M.T Iko prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Justice Garba thereafter adjourned till October 30, 2026 for trial and remanded the defendant in the Correctional Centre.
The defendant’s journey to the Correctional facility started when Kaloma approached the petitioner and informed him that his boss wanted to auction a Tractor in the sum of N6,160,000.00 and after the money was sent in two tranches, neither the tractor was delivered nor the money refunded to the petitioner.