The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Mustapha Idris before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri on charges of defrauding a victim of N1 million.

Idris appeared in court on Tuesday, July 1, facing a one-count amended charge of criminal misappropriation brought by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

According to the charge sheet, the defendant allegedly misappropriated N1,000,000 belonging to one Salisu Waziri in 2023. The EFCC stated that Idris collected the money under the false pretense of investing it in grain trading.

The charge reads: "That you, Mustapha Idris, sometimes in 2023, in Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N1,000,000.00 belonging to Salisu Waziri purportedly as money for grain investment, a claim which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 296 of Borno State Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 297 of the same law."

When the charge was read to him, Idris pleaded not guilty. Following his plea, prosecution counsel Aliyu D. Abdulmalik requested a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.

Justice Kumaliya granted the prosecution's request and adjourned the case to July 10 for commencement of trial. She also ordered that Idris be remanded at the Maiduguri Correctional Centre pending the trial.

This case highlights the EFCC's ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes in Nigeria, particularly those involving investment fraud schemes that target unsuspecting citizens.

If convicted, Idris faces penalties under Section 297 of the Borno State Penal Code Law, which provides punishment for criminal misappropriation of funds.

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