APC stalwart, Hamisu Magaji denies alleged criminal trespass of N46million sold property, lawyer reacts

By solacebase.com On Dec 4, 2022

Hamisu Magaji, APC, Lawyer, Sharad Property, Kano, — Hamisu Magaji

By Muhammad Muhammad

Convener, Tinubu/Shettima Global support in Kano, Mallam Hamisu Magaji has denied allegation of criminal trespass and intimidation leveled against him.

Similarly, Magaji, a stalwart of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Global convener Gawuna/Garo Ambassador on Saturday refuted claimed that he collected a sum of N46 million from one Yusuf Abubakar for sale of a property.

A petition dated 5th October 2022 and signed by Yusuf Abubakar before a Kano state Magistrate Court no 62, accused Magaji of criminal trespass, conversion mischief and criminal intimidation.

In the petition, a copy obtained by SOLACEBASE, Abubakar told the court that he bought a property situated along Sharada estate for the sum of N46 million from Magaji.

The petitioner expressed shocked that few days after remitting money for the property and obtained original copies of documents, the owner of the facility, (Magaji) said he was no longer ready to dispose the property.

Abubakar told court that Magaji has since taken possession of the property and refused to refund him the N46 million paid for the property. The court, ordered Kano state police command to investigate and recommend proper prosecution on the matter.

Addressing journalists on the development, on Saturday, however, Magaji faulted the petition and involvement of the police in the matter, claimed he has no business or transaction with Abubakar.

According to him, “my attention has been drawn to a report circulating in some section of the media over an alleged case of criminal trespass, conversion, mischief and intimidation filed against me by one Yusuf Abubakar.”

“The report erroneously claimed that I had denied the said Yusuf Abubakar access to a property that I allegedly sold to him at the sum of N46 million and i refused to refund the money to him”.

Revealing the episode further, Magaji told journalists that he actually engaged one Barrister Ibrahim Abere to look for a buyer for one of his landed properties at Federal Housing Estate, Sharada Quarters, Kano.

In the event, Magaji disclosed that he called off the transaction when perceived fraudulent attempt by Barrister Abere who he (Magaji) claimed had sold the property to Abubakar for the sum of N46 million but deposited N37,750,000.

“The truth of the matter was that I instructed my former lawyer Ibrahim Umar Abere to engage a negotiation in respect of sale of one of my houses in Sharada, Federal Housing Authority Estate (FHA). We agreed for the value of N40 million.”

“After the buyer paid for the property, Abere dishonestly transferred the sum of N37,250 to my acct. On getting underpaid, I immediately challenged him about the missing balance of N2,750.000 he failed to remit.”

Magaji continued: “It was during that moment I realized Barrister Abere actually disposed the property for N46 million. Immediately I wrote cheque of N37,750,000 and drop it at his office while informed him that I’m no longer interested in the selling of the property”.

When contacted, Barrister Abere denied allegation of fraud saying his hands are clean on the transaction. Abere contended that he would not mortgage his hard earn integrity in the 16 years of legal practice over a N46million property.

Contrary to Magaji’s claim, Barrister Abere said Magaji actually authorized the sales of the property and handed over original documents property after he received N40 million from Abubakar.

“Hamisu Magaji instructed me to sell his property at sharada for N40,000,000 net so we got a buyer willing to pay N46m and he was duly informed even before the draft of the agreement in my office. The money was paid and I gave the agents the N6m based on agreement.”

“My charges was made known to Hamisu Magaji to be 10% of the 40m but he refused to pay and we dragged till I stopped at N2,250,000 and he stopped at N1,000,000. The transaction was on 11th June so we had public holiday on 12 June which made me unable to transfer his money through the bank. I then transferred N37,750,000 to him on 14th June, and he was not happy so I left him.”

“He went to the agents asking how they shared the N6m and one of them told him I was given N3m then I asked him to come with the person. They came and I swore with the Quran that I didn’t collect a penny from them and the man told him that it wasn’t true that I was given money. On that note, I then asked him to transfer back the N3m he talked about so that I can give it to Hamisu Magaji who is complaining that his money supposed to be 40m. The man transferred N2,250,000 which I sent to Hamisu Magaji on the 17th of June to complete his N40m.”

“After this, we had a problem with Hamisu Magaji one of which is that he told me he wanted to rescind the sale of the house which I objected since it is illegal having collect money from the buyer for months. Hamisu Magaji collected the keys to the house and refused to hand over to Yusuf Abubakar who bought the house. He used blocks to cover the space of the gate after removing the gate and left for another destination.” Barrister Abere explained.