Charged before Justice Bello Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court in Gusau, the former Registrar of Zamfara State Upper Sharia Court 1, Gusau, Abubakar Garba Dandare, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Accused on a two-count charge, Dandare is alleged to have misappropriated N3.8 million meant for late businessman Alhaji Ladan Mada’s family. He is also facing charges of forging the signature of the deceased’s next of kin, Aminu Mada.
Under suit number ZMJ/GS/13C/2024, Dandare is charged with misappropriating N3,837,634.46, entrusted to him by the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance in December 2012 while serving as the Registrar of Upper Sharia Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State.
Furthermore, Dandare is accused of forging the signature of Aminu Mada, the next of kin of late Alhaji Mada, in the Court Cash Deposit Register of the Upper Sharia Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State, with an aim to access the funds.
The EFCC asserts that these actions constitute the offense of Criminal Breach of Trust, as per sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code, CAP 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi has granted bail to the defendant upon the condition that he presents two sureties who are residents of the state, and a sum of N5 million.
The sureties must also provide their passports and two GSM numbers to the court registrar.