It was alleged that he defrauded a Kuwaiti national of $1.3million under the pretext that he was in the business of building properties in Dubai, Kuwait and other Arab countries.

Abdulsalam Abdulkarim

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the just concluded Kano Central senatorial polls, Abdulsalam Abdulkarim, before a Federal High Court in Kano for alleged fraud.

Abdulkarim, popularly known as A.A. Zaura, who lost his senatorial election, was arraigned on a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

It was alleged that he defrauded a Kuwaiti national of $1.3million under the pretext that he was in the business of building properties in Dubai, Kuwait and other Arab countries.

He re-arraignment came after a Court of Appeal quashed the earlier discharge and acquittal judgment of a high court and ordered his retrial.

The charge read;

“That you, Abdulkarim Saleh Abdulssalam, sometime in August 2014, at Kano within the Kano Judicial Division of the High Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) from Dr. Jamman Al- Azmi when you represented that you have the capacity to partner with him for a joint venture business, which representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1[1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

After the politician pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Muhammad Yunusa ruled that the defendant can continue with the bail terms earlier granted to him by the court.

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to May 2 for the commencement of the trial.