Ex-Governor Audu’s son docked for fraud

Nnamdi Felix / Abuja

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned the son of Abubakar Audu, former Kogi state governor, Mr. Mustapha Audu and his wife, Zahrah, before an Abuja High Court for allegedly collecting N18 million from one Ms. Nike Kolawole under false pretense.

Mustapha and his wife, allegedly used their company, Constructor Guild Limited, to solicit for the fund on the pretense of helping Ms. Kolawole get a four bedroom townhouse at Ruskin Terrace at katampe Extension Abuja and another property at Caemly Estate, Idu Sabo, also in Abuja.

They pleaded not guilty to the three count charge.

Their lawyer, Mr. Kingsley Akpokona moved a motion for their bail but the application was opposed by the prosecutor, Mr. Samuel Ugwuegbulam, who prayed the court for time to respond formerly to the application.

The trial judge, Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar agreed with the prosecutor on his need to formerly respond to the bail application and remanded Mustapha Audu to Kuje prison. The court however allowed his wife, Zahrah, to continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted her by the anti graft agency.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to Thursday 28 February, for hearing of their bail application.

Count one of the charge reads:

“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 Abja 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.”