‘$1.3m fraud’: EFCC launches manhunt for APC senatorial candidate

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said it is on the hunt for the Kano central senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulkareem Abdulsalam Zaura, over a case bothering on fraud.

Zaura (popularly known as A.A. Zaura) was accused of defrauding a Kuwaiti national of $1.3million, and was billed for arraignment after the Court of Appeal quashed the earlier discharge and acquittal judgment of the court and ordered his retrial.

Daily Trust reports that his re-arraignment earlier billed for October 14, October 31 and November 10 could not go ahead following his absence in court with his lawyer arguing that his client does not have to appear before the court because of an appeal before the Supreme Court against the appellate court judgment.

However, the arraignment fixed for Monday could not go ahead due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Muhammad Yunusa, who is said to be attending another national assignment.

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Speaking to journalists at the court premises, the EFCC counsel, Ahmad Rogha said Zaura, who was also absent on Monday, was supposed to report himself to the commission following the court’s decision at the last sitting and the Supreme Court decision on November 25 dismissing Zaura’s motion to stall his arraignment.

“We are looking for Zaura and he would be arrested as soon as we found him. Ordinarily, he was supposed to be in our custody and the court has affirmed that but I can assure you he would be arrested and brought to court for the next adjourned date 30th January, 2023″, Rogha said.

Also speaking to journalists, Ibrahim Waru, counsel to Zaura said the EFCC does not possess any legal authority to arrest his client.

When asked why Zaura refused to appear for arraignment, Waru said there was no need for him to appear since the court was not sitting.

Daily Trust recalled that at the last sitting, the trial judge ordered EFCC to produce the accused person for arraignment on the allegation of fraud against a Kuwaiti national.

Justice Yunusa had overruled the Zaura’s application that challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case and other addresses bothering on whether the accused must appear in person to take plea.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to January 30 for the arraignment of the defendant.