By Nurat Uthman
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the Managing Director of Faris Construction Company Limited, Salisu Suleiman, and his company on one count of misappropriation of N21 million.
He was arraigned on Friday before Justice Hadiza Suleiman of the Kano State High Court sitting in Kano.
The charge reads: “That you, Salisu Suleiman being the Managing Director of Faris Construction Company Limited and Faris Construction Company Limited on or about June 15, 2021, in Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N21,000,000 being payment for the supply of 125,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil to your construction site in Nguru Local Government, Yobe State by SID Oil and Gas Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 309 of the same law.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him, prompting prosecution counsel, Aisha Habib, to pray the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel, Mardiyya Dawaki, applied for his bail.
Habib opposed the prayer of the defence counsel because the defendant had jumped an administrative bail earlier granted him by the EFCC.
Justice Suleiman remanded the defendant in EFCC’s custody and adjourned for hearing on the bail application.