The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, January 22, 2016 arraigned one Abubakar Habu Umar, also known as Habu Dogo, and Lawal Ibrahim( still at large) before Justice B.B. Aliyu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, on a 6-count charge bordering on unlawful possession of counterfeit currencies.

Umar, who operates in Cameroun, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kuwait and Dubai, was arrested at a Joint Task Force checkpoint in Girei Local Government Area, Adamawa State by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, for allegedly being in possession of some counterfeit currencies (100 pieces of the US Dollars; 100 pieces of 500 Euros and 99 pieces of 200 Euros).

The accused person allegedly confessed to being into fraudulent activities in different countries for over 20 years.
 
Count four of the charge reads:
‘‘That you, Abubakar Habu Umar (aka Habu Dogo) and Lawal Ibrahim ( still at large), sometime in August, 2015 at a Joint Task Force checkpoint in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit an offence to wit: being in possession of counterfeit currencies of One Hundred (100) pieces resembling 500 Euro currency bills, without lawful authority to possess same and knowing fully that the said currency are counterfeit, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 5 (1), (b) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act Cap.C35 LFN 2004.’’
 
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, A. Y. Muntaqa, asked the court for a date to commence trial.

However, the defence counsel, N. Ngaro, urged the court to grant the accused person bail in liberal terms.
 
Justice Aliyu granted the accused person bail in the sum of N1million (One Million Naira) with two sureties. The sureties must deposit N200, 000(Two Hundred Thousand Naira) each with the court and must be living within Jimeta, Adamawa State.
 
The case was adjourned to February 22 and 23, 2016 for commencement of trial.

Similarly, the EFCC also docked one Muhammad Jibril, on January 22, 2016, before Justice B.B. Aliyu of Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State on a four-count charge bordering on unlawful possession of counterfeit currencies.

The accused person, who is a member of a syndicate, was arrested at a Joint Task Force checkpoint by operatives of the Department of State Security Services, DSS, Yola, Adamawa State, for allegedly being in possession of counterfeit currencies: 29  (Twenty-nine) pieces of $100 ,  amounting to $2,900 ( Two Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars) and 46 pieces of N1,000 notes.

The accused person, who said he was lured into the illicit business by one James Ona (still at large), claimed that, he deals in traditional medicines near the Utako Market in Abuja, FCT.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Aliyu, granted the accused person bail in the sum of N250, 000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) with one surety who must be resident in Jimeta, Adamawa State.
 
The case was adjourned to March 2 and 3, 2016 for commencement of trial.

Media & Publicity
25th January, 2016