Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Alhaji Muhammad Talake before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and criminal misappropriation to the tune of N3.8 million. The defendant was arraigned on Thursday, July 23, 2026, following his alleged involvement in a property fraud scheme.
Count one of the charge reads: "That you, Alhaji Muhammad Talake, on or about March, 2025 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of the honourable court, with intent to defraud obtained the aggregate sum of N3,800,000.00 from one Muhammad Umar Ali Abatcha, under the false pretence that same is meant for the purchase of a property; ID:BO: 006, situated and laying at Old GRA, circular road, Maiduguri, Borno State, purportedly being a property put up for sale by the Federal Government of Nigeria, a representation which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006." The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Following the defendant's plea, prosecution counsel S.O. Saka prayed for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional facility. Justice Kumaliya thereafter adjourned the matter till August 10, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered the remand of the defendant in the Maiduguri Maximum Correctional Facility. The defendant's journey to the Correctional facility started when he purportedly obtained the sum of N3.8 million from a petitioner for the purchase of a property situated at Old Government Reservation Area, circular road, Maiduguri, Borno State, purportedly being a property put up for sale by the Federal Government of Nigeria, a representation which was false.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by the EFCC to combat property fraud and other financial crimes in Borno State and across the country. The anti-graft agency has consistently warned individuals against engaging in fraudulent activities, particularly those involving fake property sales and false representations. The defendant will remain in custody pending the hearing of his bail application on August 10, 2026, while the prosecution prepares to present its case during the trial.
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