YOLA — A cabinet member of the Adamawa State Executive Council, who is also the Commissioner Ministry for Special Duties, Hon. Sanusi Faruk is facing trial before Upper Area Court 3 in Yola, Adamawa state for allegedly defrauding a Driver and Special Assistant to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Saidu Muhammed the sum of N2.270 million.
In a direct criminal complaint pursuant to section 91, 112 of the State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the complainant (Saidu) alleged that he sold Toyota Corolla LE to the accused person at the sum of N2.5million on the 22nd September 2020.
He added that the defendant collected the vehicle and paid the sum of N200, 000, on the 30th November 2020, and again paid another N30, 000, remaining the balance of N2.270 million which he refused.
Sanusi, was arraigned before Honourable Umar Isa led Area Court for the alleged offence pleaded not guilty to the offence.
But during the arraignment of the commissioner today, his counsel, Idi Ali, raised a preliminary objection where he told the court that his client had filed a case before High Court Yola and that the case before the court is civil in nature, urging the court to strike out the case before it.
However, counsel to the complainant, I. M. Galadima, vehemently objected to the preliminary objection raised by the defendant’s counsel and informed the court that there was a criminal element in the transaction between the Commissioner and the driver.
Galadima, based his argument under sections 302, 303, 311, and 312 of the state penal code law, 2018, and prayed the court to refuse the application for being frivolous, vexatious, and misleading with a heavy cost.
In its ruling, Honourable Umar Isa dismissed the preliminary objection and ordered that the statement of complaint be read to the defendant to enable him to take his plea.
In order to establish his case, counsel to the complainant, I. M. Galadima, urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable him to call witnesses to prove his case.
On his part, counsel to the defendant applied that the Commissioner be admitted to bail.
The then court granted him bail on the condition to produce a surety who must be an Honourable Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, or civil servant not below grade level 15 or else be remanded in a peaceful custodial centre, and adjourned the matter to 20th September 2021 for hearing.
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