A 45-year-old businessman, Simon Martins, was on Thursday arraigned in a Kaduna High Court over alleged N10 million fraud.

Martins was charged with a criminal breach of trust by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), Kaduna.

While arraigning the defendant, the EFCC prosecutor, E.K. Garba, told the court that the defendant committed the offense sometime in November 2020.

Garba informed the court that the defendant collected the sum of N10 million from one Joshua Sabo, for the supply of three Shortwave Diathermy machines but fraudulently diverted the money to his personal use.

The prosecutor noted that the offense contravened Section 293 of the Kaduna State Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following the defendant’s plea, the prosecutor urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

The defendant’s counsel, Kingsley Blessed, however, asked the court to admit his client to bail.

Justice Darius Khobo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum.

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Khobo ordered that each surety must own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and must depose to an affidavit of means.

He said that the two sureties and the defendant must deposit two passport photographs with the court’s registrar as well as the defendant’s passport.

Khobo adjourned the matter until March 30, for hearing