$1.30 million fraud: Absence of APC senatorial candidate stalls fresh arraignment in Kano

By Muhammad Muhammad 

Fresh arraignment of a senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Kano, Abdulkareem AbdulSalam Zaura, popularly called A.A Zaura was stalled on Friday following his conspicuous absent at the court.

SOLACEBASE reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC filed fresh application bordering on multi-million dollar fraud charged against A.A Zaura after the judgement of Appellate court.

The international business mogul was accused of defrauding a Kuwaiti national of $1.320 million, said to have obtained through false pretence, a source from EFCC revealed.

The hard currency was purportedly obtained by A. A Zaura to develop a real estate in Dubai.

The court of appeal, Kano division in April, 2022, however ordered a fresh retrial of the case earlier dismissed and acquittal by a Kano Federal high court which ruled in favor of Zaura.

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The three panel of Justices of the appellate, presided by Justice Abdullahi Bayero had struck out the judgement of Justice Lewis Allagoa that discharged Zaura of the alleged financial theft in June 2020.

However, the retrial scheduled to open before Justice Mohammad Nasiru Yinusa on Friday suffered setback with the absence of Zaura. Although, the prosecution and defense counsels were well represented at the court, the court through the registrar told journalists that the case is adjourned to 31st October, 2022.

Although, Zaura has headed to Supreme court to challenge the retrial verdict delivered by the appellate court, as well as stay of execution of the judgement, the defendant is yet to receive ruling on the two application.

Zaura, won the Kano Central Senatorial district APC primary in April, after he defeated former senator Bashir Garba (Lador).