EFCC arraigns ex-Sharia Court Registrar for allegedly forging late businessman’s signature

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a former Registrar of Zamfara State Upper Sharia Court 1, Gusau, Abubakar Garba Dandare, before Justice Bello Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court in Gusau.

The Commission docked Dandare on a two-count charge, accusing him of misappropriating the sum of N3.8 million belonging to a late businessman, Alhaji Ladan Mada, and the forgery of the signature of his next of kin, Aminu Mada.

In the suit number, ZMJ/GS/13C/2024, Dandare was charged for misappropriating N3,837,634.46, entrusted to him for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada by the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance in December 2012, when he was the Registrar of Upper Sharia Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State.

Dandare was also alleged to have forged the signature of Aminu Mada, late Alhaji Mada’s next of kin, on the Court Cash Deposit Register of the Upper Shari’s Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State, aiming to access the funds.

The EFCC said that the actions constituted the offense of Criminal Breach of Trust, as outlined in sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code, CAP 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.

Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi granted bail to the defendant, under the condition that he provides two sureties who are residents of the state, in the sum of N5 million.

They must also submit their passports and two GSM numbers to the court registrar.