The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a self-acclaimed Islamic preacher, Sanusi Nalado, before Justice B.O. Quadri of the Federal High Court, Gombe, for defrauding a retired civil servant, Alhaji Mohammed Toungo, of N7.3m under the guise of getting Saudi Arabia to fund his (Toungo) Da’awah project.
It was learnt that Nalado approached Toungo in January 2010 and convinced him to also become an Islamic propagator. He allegedly claimed he had contact with a Saudi Arabian propagation agency and promised that he would get the agency to support Toungo.
The accused assured Toungo that the agency would fund all his projects, including building of mosques, schools, provision of vehicles and books, among others.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwajaren, in a statement on Tuesday, said investigation revealed that the accused made available his bank account and Toungo paid some money into it for registration of documents and logistics.
Uwujaren said, “From time to time, Nalado kept coming back and asking for money to meet one obligation or the other in the guise of facilitating the receipt of the expected funds from Saudi Arabia.
“Calls were also made to assuage and reassure Toungo that his application was receiving attention and that the money to start the projects would soon be sent to him in foreign currency. After such calls, Nalado would make financial demands from Toungo. The money obtained from Toungo by Nalado severally totalled N7. 317m.”
It was learnt that after sensing that his victim was becoming suspicious, Nalado brought a sealed box to Toungo’s house which he claimed contained $2m as the first instalment from the Saudi agency.
Uwujaren said, “Nalado told him not to open it until prayers and purification were made on the box. He, however, still ask Toungo to bring more money for purification. Toungo, at this juncture, reported the matter to the EFCC, Gombe zonal office.
“Nalado was arrested in Abuja after over a year of being on his trail. The sealed box was brought to the EFCC office and opened in the presence of both parties. The box was discovered to contain 2,353 pieces $100 notes resembling the American legal tender.
“Unity Bank also confirmed that Nalado was the owner and operator of the account Toungo had been lodging money in.”
When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty. Quadri adjourned the case to March 15, 2012, and ordered that Nalado should be remanded in prison custody.
