The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, arraigned Husaini Mohammed Auwal and his company, Humak Global Business Links before the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged illegal financial transactions to the tune of N998 million.
Auwal and his company were arraigned on a six-count charge on Suspicious Transaction Report, SRT, of criminal conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining money by false pretense.
Head, Media and Publicity of the agency, Dele Oyewale in a statement said Auwal was arrested following an intelligence received by the Commission on April 28, 2022 from the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit ,NFIU, which showed that the defendant was allegedly receiving huge transfers from diverse entities through his company’s account and instantly transfer such funds to various accounts, violating the daily transfer threshold.
They were arraigned on a six-count charge on Suspicious Transaction Report, SRT, of criminal conspiracy, money laundering and obtaining money by false pretense.
Count one charged Awal for operating a bureau de change business without a valid license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, contravening section 57 and 59 (5) of the Bank and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.
Count two reads: “that you Husaini Mohammed Auwal, being the managing director of Humak Global Business Link and Humak Global Business Link on or about 10th August, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court received a total inflow of N47,250,000 from Khadab Ventures and Trust Limited into Humak Global Business Link account, domiciled in First City Monument Bank with account number 4497159015 in excess of N10,000,000.00 which you failed to make a report to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU and thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 11 (1) and (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
READ ALSO:Financial misappropriation: EFCC probes Abdulfatah, former Kwara Governor
He pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.
Prosecution counsel, Deborah Ademu Eteh asked the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional facility.
The defense counsel, however, called the attention of the court to an existing bail application and prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.
Justice J.O Abdulmalik adjourned the matter till February 23, for hearing of bail application and March 21, 2024 for trial while ordering that the defendant be remanded in EFCC`s custody until the adjourned date.
