The long arm of law has finally caught up with a man who pretended to be an EFCC operative with the aim to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The fake EFCC operative
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal Office, on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 arraigned one Babakura Mustapha before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri, on a two-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.
Mustapha allegedly posed as a staff of the EFCC with the name “Mr. Kola” and in the assumed capacity presented himself to one Mamman Bukar as the operative handling ‘a case’ purportedly against him (Bukar).
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 132 Penal Code Law Cap 102, Laws of Borno State.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you, BABAKURA MUSTAPHA sometime in June, 2017 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, falsely personate a staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and in such assumed character; you presented yourself to Mamman Alh. Bukar, bearing a fictitious name Mr. Kola and pretended to be handling his case in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 132 Penal Code Law Cap 102,Laws of Borno State.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Khalid Sanusi, asked the court for a date to present his witnesses.
Justice Kumaliya, thereafter, ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody and adjourned to June 13, 2018 for trial.