THE trial judge handling the N15 billion suit against former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and 15 others, at the Sokoto State High Court, Justice Bello Abbas, has admitted into evidence, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the state and local governments joint account, signed between the state government and 23 local council chairmen in the state, as well as the cash book of the state Ministry of Local Government, which was allegedly used by the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, to withdraw funds from the account.
During cross examination by the lead prosecuting counsel, Chief Jacob Ochidi, at the resumed sitting of the court, the state auditor general, Alhaji Yusuf Nawawi, said Bafarawa, Dingyadi and former commissioner for finance, the late Alhaji Garba Mohammed, signed the MoU on behalf of the state government on one hand, while the former 23 local council chairmen signed the document on the other hand.
He told the court that the MoU was certified by the current SSG, Alhaji Sahabi Isa Gada, as the certified true copy, while the cash book was certified as true copy by the director of finance and supply in the Ministry of Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar.
Nawawi said withdrawals from the state and local governments joint account by the office of the former SSG started between December 2002 and April 2005, whereas the MoU for the joint account was signed on October 24, 2004.
The lead defense counsel, Chief Abdul-Lateef Fagbemi, after cross-examining Nawawi, pleaded for adjournment of the case, while February 13 and 14 were fixed for the resumption of hearing on the matter.
Tribune
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