Niger Police Drag Medical Doctor to Federal High Court Over N14m Advance Fee Fraud

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BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA

The Legal Unit of the Niger State Police Command has arraigned a Medical Doctor before a Minna division of the Federal High Court for alleged advance fee fraud.

Dr. Gana Yakubu, a Private Medical Practitioner based in Bida Niger State,was arraigned on five count charges which bordered on advance fee fraud, cheating, breach of trust, Criminal Misappropriation and obtaining money and property under deceitful pretence.

According to the head of the Legal unit of the Niger State Police Command,Asp Emmanuel Oche Esq.the five count were punishable under sections 1 (a),(b), and punishable under section 1 (3) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences act and section 323 of the penal code law of Northern Nigeria.

Dr. Yakubu Gana,was alleged to have deceived one of his colleague  one Dr. Ayokunle Olatunde under the pretence of establishing a joint venture Hospital as Ultimate specialist Hospital at Katcha “for both of you and  collected both Hospital equipment and cash sum of money valued N14 million which you converted to your personal use”

One of the charge read,in: part, “That you Dr. Gana Yakubu  ‘M’ on or about the month of August 2024, at Bida and Katcha respectively,within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court,did commit an illegal act to wit:obtaining money and property by false pretence,when you deceived and induced Dr. Ayokunle Olatunde believed under the pretense of establishing a joint venture hospital as the ultimate specialist hospital at Katcha for both of you and collected both hospital equipment and cash sum of fourteen million Naira and converted the same to your personal use without establishing the joint venture hospital.

“ You thereby committed an offence  contrary to section 1(3)  1(a),(b), and  © and punishable 1(3) of the Advance fee fraud related offences Act.”

When the count charges were read to him by the presiding judge,Justice Abdullahi Dan Ige,the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge,however,the police prosecuting counsel, Asp Emmanuel Oche Esq,told the court that the content of the charges “ is the charges brought against him and objected to this bail.

His defence counsel Barrister Kabir Koroka,applied for his bail  on the ground that the five count charges brought against the defendant are bailable offences and prayed the court to Grant him accordingly.

While granting the bail application, Justice Abdullahi Dan-Ige granted him bail in the sum five million Naira with reasonable surety residing within the jurisdiction of the court; the surety must also deposit three years tax certificate.

He was then reminded in the correctional Custody pending when he perfect his bail condition. 

The case has been adjourned to 17th February,2026 for further mention.