The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has brought charges against Aisha Salihu Malkohi, also known as Ummitah or Arab Money, and her husband, Abubakar Abubakar Sadiq Mahmoud, who is currently at large.
The charges include misappropriation of funds totaling N410,518,000 (Four Hundred and Ten Million, Five Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira only).
The couple was arraigned before Justice Aisha Mahmud of the Kano State High Court in Kano on Friday, December 8, 2023.
One of the charges alleges that “you Aisha Salihu Malkohi and Abubakar Sadiq Mahmoud (now at large) on or about 2022 in Kano, Kano state within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did obtain the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand Naira only (225,259,000) belonging to Farida Ibrahim between 6th January to 16th December 2022 into account bearing Abubakar Sadiq Mahmoud domiciled at Zenith Bank that the said money were paid to you for the purchase and supply of 64 cars, from Saudi Arabia facts which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (a)&(b) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act,2006.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all five counts, and in response, EFCC counsel Zarami Mohammed requested a trial date.
Defense counsel G.I Abubakar moved a bail application for his client, which was opposed by Mohammed.
Justice Mahmud subsequently adjourned the matter until December 15, 2023, for a ruling on the bail application.
The defendant was remanded in EFCC custody pending the ruling on her bail application.
Malkohi was arrested by EFCC investigators in Kano based on a petition from two individuals, Farida Ibrahim and Ibrahim Mohammed Abdulrahman.
They alleged that she conspired with her husband to defraud them of their hard-earned money by falsely promising to supply them with cars, gold, electronics, and kitchen utensils from Saudi Arabia.
Upon receiving the petition, the EFCC conducted a thorough investigation, revealing that the defendant had collected N410,518,000 through bank accounts belonging to her company, Golden Grass Hill International Ltd, and her husband’s Zenith Bank account.
Further investigation exposed that the defendant and her husband, who remains at large, diverted the funds into several bank accounts.
