The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the leave of a Kano High Court sitting in Kano, to arraign two suspects – Saminu Umar Ta’ambu and Ahmed Maiturare – of the popular Kantin Kwari textile market, Kano for offences bordering on obtaining money by false pretences.

According to a statement by the EFCC’s spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the suspects allegedly used the name of the Kano State Government to induce a Swiss national, Mathias Hee, who is the owner of Okutex Ag, into supplying them with fabrics worth $530,000 (N164m).

Justice Dije Aboki gave the ruling after hearing argument on the application for leave to prefer charge against the suspects by the EFCC counsel A.T. Habib. The leave is pursuant to Section 185(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The prime suspect Ta’ambu was alleged to have approached the victim around July, 2015 requesting for the supply of fabrics to the tune of $530,000 under the pretext that he acted on behalf of the Kano State Government and forged a document titled, ‘Authorisation to transfer to foreign account,’ purported to have been issued and signed by the authority of the Government of Kano State.

“After the items were supplied, Ta’ambu failed to honour his part of the bargain and refused to remit the amount as agreed,” the statement read in part.

Justice Dije adjourned the matter till October 5, 2016 for arraignment.