Abuja — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday arraigned the son of former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, Mustapha Audu; his wife, Zahrah, alongside their company, Constructor Guild Limited before Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar of an Abuja High Court, Maitama, Abuja for obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N18 million.

One of the charges against the accused persons read: "That you Mustapha Audu, Zahra M. Audu in your capacity as Directors of Constructors Guild Limited and Constructors Guild Limited on or about the January 7, 2010, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court obtained the sum of N3 million from one Nike Kolawole, under the pretence of helping her to get a four bedroom townhouse at Ruskin Terrace situated at Katampe Extension Abuja which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3)of the same act."

The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty to the three- count charge were alleged to have falsely obtained the money in their capacity as directors in the said company from Kolawole under the pretence that they would get her a four-bedroom house at Katampe Extension, Abuja; and another property at Caemly Estate, Idu Sabo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Following their plea, their counsel, Kingsley Akpokona, moved a motion for bail on behalf of his clients, but was opposed by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Samuel Ugwuegbulam, who prayed the court for time to respond to the application.

While consenting to the prosecution's request for time to respond to the application for bail, Justice Umar remanded the first accused, Mustapha Audu, in Kuje prison but allowed the second accused person, Zahrah M. Audu, to continue to enjoy the administrative bail earlier granted her.

The case has been adjourned to February 28 for hearing of the bail application.