Kano businessman arraigned for N4.1m maize fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, arraigned one Kabiru Mohammed Shanono before Justice Aisha Mahmud of the Kano State High Court on a one count charge of criminal misappropriation.

The defendant allegedly collected two trucks of Maize worth N18,537.390 (Eighteen Million Five Hundred and Thirty-seven Naira, Three Hundred and Ninety Kobo.) from the petitioner on the understanding that he would make full payment upon sale of the items.  He reneged on the agreement by remitting only N13,400,000 and diverting the sum of N5,137,930 (Five Million, One Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and  Thirty Naira Only) to personal use. The defendant however paid  a further N1,000,000 (One Million Naira Only) to the complainant in the course of the investigation, leaving a balance of Four Million, One Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Naira (N4,137,390.00).

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The charge reads, “You Kabiru Mohammed Shanon, whilst trading under the name and style of “Kabiru Shanono Ent”, sometime in 2021, at Kano within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kano State knowingly and dishonestly misappropriated the sum of Four Million, One Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Naira (N4,137,390.00), being the outstanding amount of the purchase price of two trucks of Maize, which you sold on behalf of Alhaji Shuaibu Alhassan to Infinity Snacks and Beverages Limited, proceeds of which you were supposed to remit fully to Alhaji Shuaibu Alhassan but instead, converted same to your own use, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Law of Kano State.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him. In view of the plea of the defendant, counsel for the prosecution, Clinton Wilson Okereke asked for a date for the commencement of trial. However, counsel representing the defendant, GY Gambo applied for the bail of his client which was opposed by the prosecution counsel on the grounds that the application was only served on him in the morning of arraignment, adding that he needed time to respond with a counter affidavit. Consequently, Justice Mahmud adjourned the matter till July 17, 2023 for hearing of bail application.

The defendant was remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing and determination of his bail application.