Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, on December 5, 2012, refused the application to grant bail to Bashir Ahmed who was arraigned on November 26, 2012, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a nine count criminal charge for allegedly defrauding one Alhaji Saidu Hashim to the tune of N37, 000,000.00 (Thirty Seven Million Naira)

One of the charge reads, "that you, Bashir Ahmed (alias Muhammed Bashir Kanuri) (M) on or the 28th of April, 2008 in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did with intent to defraud, induced one Saidu Hashim to deposit the sum of N3, 000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) into account No: 3126279071590 operated in the name of Mohammed Bashir Kanuri with GTB Plc under the false pretences that the money was for spiritual prayer in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia for prosperity of his Bureau de Change and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act".

At the resumed hearing of the bail application on December 5, 2012, Justice Awokulehin, while adjourning the case till January 15, 16 and 17, 2013, for commencement of trial, said the accused person is to remain in prison custody until the determination of the case.

Investigation leading to the arraignment of Ahmed followed a petition dated December 23, 2008, from the Association of Creditors of Amjigar Bureau De Change based in Kaduna detailing fraud of over $18.6 million.
The $18.6 million represented the total sum the fifty two (52) customers of Alhaji Saidu Hashim, sometimes between July and August 2008, gave him for the purpose of foreign exchange (forex) trading.
However proof of about N37million was uncovered against Ahmed during investigation.

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
7th December, 2012