The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Salisu Suleiman, the managing director of Faris Construction Company Limited, and the company itself on allegations of misappropriating funds amounting to N21,000,000. This case revolves around the payment for the supply of 125,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) to the company’s construction site in Nguru Local Government, Yobe State by SID Oil and Gas Limited.
According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the arraignment took place on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, before Justice Hadiza Suleiman of the Kano State High Court sitting in Kano.
The lone count charge reads: “That you, Salisu Suleiman being the Managing Director of Faris Construction Company Limited and Faris Construction Company Limited on or about 15th June 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, AGO, 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.”
During the arraignment, Suleiman pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution counsel, Aisha Tahar Habib, requested a trial date, while the defence counsel, Mardiyya Alasan Dawaki, applied for his bail. However, Mr Habib opposed the bail application, citing the defendant’s previous breach of administrative bail granted by the EFCC. Consequently, Justice Suleiman remanded the defendant in EFCC’s custody and adjourned for the hearing on the bail application.
The allegations revolve around Suleiman’s receipt of 125,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, diesel, on credit from the petitioner, S.I.D Oil and Gas Limited, worth N21,000,000, under the promise of payment upon receipt of payment from Yobe State Government for the supply. However, it is alleged that Suleiman reneged on the agreement after the Yobe State Government had paid him, falsely claiming that he had not received any payment from the state government. This resulted in the petitioner suspecting foul play and subsequently petitioning the EFCC.
Subsequent investigations unveiled that Suleiman had been paid by the Yobe State Government long before, but allegedly misappropriated and diverted the funds entirely for personal use. The case underscores the EFCC’s commitment to tackling fraudulent activities and upholding financial integrity within the Nigerian business landscape.
