The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has remanded a serving member of the House of Representatives, Gabriel Zock, in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged N185 million fraud.
The House of Representatives member, who represents Kachia Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, was alleged to have in 2015, defrauded one Adeyemi Kamar to the tune of 185 million naira, in two installment of 150 million and 35 million naira respectively, under the pretext of assisting him to influence the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to secure Right of Occupancy (R of O) for his property at Guzape area of Abuja.
The Lawmaker had no legal representation upon his arraignment before the Court and the trial Judge, Hon. Justice Halilu Yusuf, appointed Adebara Adeniyi as counsel for him for the purpose of arraignment and bail.
He however, pleaded not guilty, to the charges read to him and the trial Judge ordered that the Federal Lawmaker be remanded in the custody of the Prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and adjourned hearing of his bail application to February 16, 2022.
EFCC’s counsel, Maryam Ahmed, earlier urged the court to remand the federal lawmaker in Correctional Centre, pending the hearing and determination of his bail application which was already filed by another lawyer on February 9, emphasizing that it was not ripe for hearing, moreso, she needed time to study and respond to fundamental issues raised in the motion for bail.
The alleged offences are 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.
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