The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Umar Bello Sadiq and his company, Marula Global Links, before Justice Zuwaira Yusuf of the Kano State High Court, over a three-count charges related to misappropriation and issuance of dud cheques.
The charges stem from an alleged act in which the defendant obtained N20,000,000 (Twenty Million Naira) from Faridah Nasir Bayero, the wife of the Emir of Bichi, Nasir Ado Bayero, with the promise of investing it in a mining business. However, it is claimed that Sadiq diverted the funds for personal use after receiving them.
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One of the charges states: “That you UMAR BELLO SADIQ AND MARULA GLOBAL LINKS LTD on or about 6th May 2021 and 25th November 2021 at Kano within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court dishonestly misappropriated the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira only) entrusted to you by Faridah Nasir Bayero for the supply of Industrial Resources and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 309 of the same code.”
Sadiq pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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The prosecution counsel, Sadiq Kurawa, requested a trial date, while the defense counsel, Shuaibu Muazu, applied for bail for the defendant. Justice Yusuf granted bail to the defendant in the amount of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and required two sureties in the same sum who must be blood relatives.
The trial is scheduled to commence on November 24, 2023.
