The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Abubakar Dandare, a Registrar of the Upper Sharia Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, for alleged forgery and misappropriation of N3.8 million belonging to the family of a deceased individual.
According to EFCC, The offense was committed on December 4, 2012, according to the EFCC counsel, Peter Attah.
Attah told the court that Dandare, while entrusted with the N3.8 million retention fee paid by the Zamfara Ministry of Finance for the family of the late Ladan Mada, dishonestly misappropriated the funds.
This action constitutes a criminal breach of trust, contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code CAP 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under section 312 of the same law.
The EFCC further alleged that Dandare forged the signature of Mada on the Court Cash Deposit register to misappropriate the money, an offence contrary to section 363 of the penal code CAP 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under Section 364 of the same law.
Background
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Abubakar Dandare, a Registrar of the Upper Sharia Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, on charges of criminal breach of trust and forgery related to the alleged misappropriation of 3.8 million naira meant for the family of a deceased man named Ladan Mada in 2012.
The EFCC claims Dandare forged Mada’s signature to take the court-held funds.
During the arraignment, the defense counsel, Bello Umar, observed that the laws under which the accused was arraigned had been repealed following the passage of the Zamfara 2022 penal code. Consequently, Umar prayed for the dismissal of the case.
Court’s Decision
The presiding judge, Bello Shinkafi, admitted Dandare to bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge ordered the sureties to deposit two passport photos and their phone numbers with the court. The case was adjourned until June 6 for further mention.