THE Honourable Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Maitam Division of FCT High Court on Thursday remanded Hon. Gabriel Zock (APC-Kaduna State) in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N185 million land fraud.
The EFCC, charged Hon. Zock, representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State with fraud. Justice Halilu gave the order of remand after EFCC Counsel, Maryam Ahmed, prayed the court to remand him until he is granted bail. In granting the prayer, Halilu adjourned the case until February 16, 2022 for further hearing.
Earlier, the EFCC alleged that the lawmaker had in 2015 in Abuja, under false pretext, collected N150 million from Adeyemi Kamar for a plot of land in Guzape, District, Abuja. The EFCC also alleged that Zock collected N35 million from Kamar to facilitate and obtain title document of the land which he knew was false.
The anti-graft agency said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 1(1)(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same act. Hon. Zock however pleaded not guilty.
Mr O.S Adeyemi, whom the court asked to stand for Zock, who said his counsel was held up somewhere, made an oral application for his bail.
Counsel to EFCC however opposed the bail, arguing that the defendant’s counsel should apply for the lawmaker’s bail in writing. (NAN)
