The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on
Friday, January 22, 2016 arraigned the duo of Shehu Mustapha, Registrar
Litigation, Adamawa State High Court and Barrister Binanu R. Esthon, former
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Yola Chapter before Justice B.B Aliyu of
Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State on a 4-count charge bordering
on conspiracy and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N60million (sixty
million naira).
Mustapha and Esthon were docked following a complaint
alleging criminal conspiracy between the accused persons and a prima facie case
established against them.
A group of staff numbering five hundred and one were
disengaged from Stirling Civil Engineering Company Limited, but had their
entitlements withheld by the Company.
The disengaged staff, through the former NBA boss, Esthon
instituted an action against their employer (Stirling Civil Engineering Company
Limited) at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola, and had the judgment
entered in their favour.
According to them, Esthon, in connivance with Mustapha, the
registrar of the court, diverted part of the funds meant for the settlement of
their entitlements to personal use.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you, Shehu Mustapha sometime between 2007-2009 at
Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent
to defraud, did obtained money, the sum of N59, 995,000.00 from Alhaji Yusuf
Abubakar being the proceeds recovered from the auction executed against the
properties of Stirling Civil Engineering Company Limited as judgment debtor
delivered by Adamawa State High Court in suit No.ADSY/60M/2007 under the false
pretence that the said sum was to be utilized in settling the judgment
creditors which you never did instead diverted the said sum to your personal
use, thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 2 (1)
(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act LFN 2006 and
punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges
preferred against them.
In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, A. Y. Muntaqa asked
the court for a date to commence trial.
However, L. D Nzadon, counsel to the accused persons, urged
the court to admit the defendants to bail adding that, the accused persons
would not do anything to frustrate their trial.
Justice Aliyu admitted the accused persons to bail in the
sum of N5million and a surety each in like sum.
The case has been adjourned to March 14, 15, 16 and 17, 2016
for hearing.
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