Zaura’s Application Stall $1.3m Fraud Trial

The trial of Abdulsalam Saleh Abdulkarim, also known as AA Zaura, before Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court was stalled on Tuesday due to an application filed by the defendant asking for a stay of proceedings.

Zaura was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 1, 2023, for allegedly defrauding a Kuwaiti citizen to the tune of $1,320,000 (One Million Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars) under the guise that he was into real estate business in Dubai and other countries.

When the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, the matter was adjourned to May 2, 2023, for the commencement of trial.

According to EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, while the case was pending, Zaura filed an application for a stay of proceedings and served the prosecution, which responded with a counter affidavit that by virtue of section 360 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA and section 40 of the EFCC Act, the Court could not entertain a no stay of proceedings in criminal trial.

Counsel to the defendant, M.I Dikko SAN, also informed the Court on Tuesday that he had filed a further and better affidavit in support of the motion for a stay of proceedings.

Justice Yunusa adjourned the matter till May 31, and June 1, 2023, for hearing of the application.