‘$1.3m scam’: Again, Zaura’s arraignment stalled

The arraignment of the Kano Central senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulkarim Saleh Abdulsalam, before Hon Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court Kano, suffered yet another setback Monday, owing to a change of counsel by the defence.
It is the sixth time the arraignment would be pushed forward at the instance of the defence.
A press statement the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Wilson Uwujaren, Monday, said when the matter was called, Basil Hemba who held the brief of Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court that they are the new counsel for the defendant and needed time to study the case. He consequently asked for an adjournment.
Prosecuting counsel, Aisha Tahar Habib objected to the application for an adjournment but the court overruled her on the grounds that the new counsel has right under the law to study the case before diving into the matter.
Consequently, Justice Yunusa adjourned the case to March 1, 2023 for arraignment.
Zaura is being arraigned for allegedly defrauding a Kuwaiti citizen of the sum of $1,320,000 (One Million Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars) under the pretext that he is a property developer in Dubai, Kuwait and other Arab countries.