The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has charged Husaini Mohammed Auwal, a Bureau de Change operator, before the Federal High Court in Abuja with alleged unlawful financial transactions totaling N998,421,564.
Auwal and his firm, Humak Global Business Links, were charged with six counts of suspicious transaction report, criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and collecting money under false pretenses.
One of the charges stated: “That you Husaini Mohammed Auwal, being the managing director of Humak Global Business Link on or between 2016 and 2017 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did carry on, other financial business, to wit: bureau de change business without a valid license issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria contrary to sections 57 and 59 (5) of the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.”
He pled not guilty to all of the accusations when they were read to him.
Following his guilty plea, the prosecution lawyer, Deborah Ademu Eteh, requested the court for a trial date and the defendant’s custody in a correctional institution.
However, the defense counsel called the court’s attention to an existing bail application and requested that the prisoner be granted bail on more lenient conditions.
The presiding judge, Justice J.O Abdulmalik, then delayed the case to February 23 for the hearing of the bail application and March 21, 2024 for trial.
He further directed that the defendant be held in EFCC custody till the postponed date.
