The Federal High Court in Kano has discharged and acquitted the Kano state governorship candidate of Green Party Of Nigeria, GNP in the 2019 election Abdulkarim Abdulsalam popularly known as AA Zaura over charges of fraud preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Justice Lewis Allagoa held that the prosecution has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant has obtained by false pretense the sum of 1.5 million US dollars.contrary to the advanced fee fraud act.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC had in 2018 dragged the GNP governorship candidate AA Zaura before the federal high Court on 9 Count charges bordering on conspiracy and fraud.
Zaura was accused of collecting by false pretense the sum of 1,320,000 dollars from one Jammal Al-azmin, a foreigner who later petitioned the EFCC.
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Justice Lewis Allagoa agrees with the submission of the defense counsel Ishaku Dikko SAN that the petitioner did not give evidence in court and therefore could not be cross-examined.
This the defense argued created doubt in the whole evidence of the prosecution in a criminal matter.
There was a mild drama in court when defense counsel apologised for absence of the defendant who could not come from Abuja because of lockdown order.
EFCC counsel Micheal Ojo asked the court to issue bench warrant to arrest him as his conditional bail requires his appearance in court.
(Editor:Paul Akhagbemhe)
