The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 18, 2016 arraigned one Francis A. Igo before Justice S. K Idrisu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence.

Igo’s arrest and subsequent arraignment followed a petition by one Dr. Aliero Shehu Usman of Ministry of Finance, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

The petitioner alleged that sometime in October, 2012 he got a call from one Engr. Yusuf who claimed to be an employee of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Jalingo, that he had been awarded a contract to supply some solar kit Model 10a to National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Abuja.

According to Usman, Igo introduced him to one Professor Williams, who claimed to be the Director, Finance and Supply of NIPP where he was told to register with a certain amount before he could get the supply.

The petitioner alleged that after paying the required amount into the account supplied by the accused, he could still not deliver on his promises.

Igo and his accomplice, who operate as syndicate, were alleged to have in a similar fashion defrauded several unsuspecting victims of their hard earned income.

One of the counts reads:

“That you, Francis A. Igo, Engr Yusuf (at large), Prof Williams (at Large) and Bernand Omale (at Large), sometime in November, 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira only) through the GTBank Plc. Account N0. 0122206505 belonging to Francis A. Igo from Said Abdullahi under the false presence that you work with the National Integrated Power Project and you wanted him to supply some RING to the said project which presence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

The accused person pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Salihu Sani asked the court for a date to commence trial and also to remand the accused person in prison custody.

Jusdtice Idrisu ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned to March 8, 2016 for hearing on the bail application and commencement of trial.