Kano APC senatorial candidate in alleged $1.3m fraud, EFCC threatens arrest

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will arrest Kano central senatorial candidate under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) AbdulKareem AbdulSalam Zaura over an alleged $1.3 million fraud.

EFCC lawyer, Ahmad Rogha disclosed this to journalists on Monday at the resumption of the criminal trial at the Federal high court sitting in Kano.

Although the trial scheduled for arraignment could not be held because of the absence of the trial Judge, who was to be attending another national issue outside Kano, the EFCC lawyer declared that Zaura was supposed to report himself to the commission.

According to him, “We are looking for Zaura and he would be arrested as soon as we found him. Ordinarily, he was supposed to be in our custody and the court has affirmed that but I can assure you he would be arrested and brought to court for the next adjourned date 30th January 2023”.

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In his counterargument, counsel to the accused person, Ibrahim Garba Waru faulted the position of EFCC and insisted that the commission did not possess any legal authority to arrest his client.

When asked why Zaura refused to appear for arraignment, Waru said there was no need for him to appear since the court was not sitting.

Before the adjourned date, the trial Judge, Justice Mohammad Yunusa ordered EFCC to produce the accused person for arraignment on the allegation of fraud against a Kuwaiti national.

Justice Yunusa had overruled Zaura’s application that challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case and other addresses bothering on whether the accused must appear in person to take a plea.

Zaura’s attorney, Barrister Ibrahim Waru had argued that his client under the law was not compelled to appear before the court, insisting Zaura’s appeal was pending before the Supreme Court.

The arraignment is adjourned to 30th January 2023.