KANO – A 60-year-old man identified as Yahaya Musa collapsed and was subsequently confirmed dead while standing trial of an alleged advance fee fraud at the Federal high Court, sitting in Kano.
Musa, a businessman was brought before Justice S.M. Shaibu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly obtaining N7,250,000 under false pretence but suddenly fell while the case was called.
The defendant, who was rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital AKTH, by the EFCC vehicle where he was confirmed dead, triggered more confusion when the cause of the death was not disclosed.
Lawyer to the deceased, Hussain Tanko told The Guardian that his client was arrested and detained by the EFCC in the last five weeks for what ought to be a civil matter and denied him his routine medication.
Tanko revealed that his client who was suffering from chronic high blood pressure was detained without allowing him access to his routine medication despite several interventions from relatives of the deceased.
The lawyer who also accused EFCC of dabbling into civil transactions between two business partners, insisted his late client was brought under detention over N2,000,000 and not N7,250,000.
Tanko explained that late Musa was initially arrested in August, 2025 following a petition filed by the nominal complainant Abubakar and charged to court. He said late Musa was released on bail with a surety standing for him.
The deceased’s lawyer revealed that EFCC subsequently rearrested late Musa on May 15, 2026 following his absence at the next sitting in the court, after compelling his surety to identify the defendant’s residence.
Tanko explained that since the EFCC had detained late Musa, he was brought to court for arraignment without the consent of the court because of the N2,000,000.00 when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Although, efforts to speak with the commission’s Zonal head was not successful, a charge filed by Sadiq Hussaini, solicitor to EFCC against the late defendant was obtained.
According to the charge dated 21 August, 2025 accused the late Musa of obtaining the sum of N7,250,000.00 from one Murtala Abubakar under false pretence for selling a plot of land located at no. 1920 Kofar Waka, Gwale local government area of Kano.
According to the charge deposited by the EFCC lawyer, the said plot of land carries Grant and Registration number RES/91/2628 which eventually turned out to be fraudulent after the accused person had received the said amount.
