The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today arraigned the duo of Usman
B Abdurahman (KILISHIN DAS ) and Hafizu Dauda of the Bauchi State Judiciary
before Justice M. A Sambo of the Bauchi State High Court on a 6-count
charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining of goods under false pretence and
presenting false documents.
The
suspects who are Secretary and Treasurer respectively of the Amalgamated Union
of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services
Employees, (AUPCTRE) Judiciary Branch, Bauchi State were arrested following a
petition by a top judicial officer in
the state, alleging that sometime in 2009 the association entered into contract
agreement with De-Damak Nigeria Limited to supply 3,000 unit of
motorcycles at the cost of N217,000,000 for distribution to its members, based
on management guarantee and irrevocable standing payment order (ISPO) by
the High Court of Bauchi State. But the unionists allegedly diverted many units
of the motorcycles and sold them to M. D. Tofa Investment Limited in Kano. It
was also discovered that even the few names submitted by the union as
beneficiaries of the loan for remittance were fictitious; others were either
retired or dead, while majority could not be found in the central data base of
the Bauchi State civil Service.
Count
two of the charge reads, “ that you USMAN B. ABDURAHMAN and HAFIZU DAUDA,
Sometime between October and November 2009 in Bauchi, Bauchi State within the
jurisdiction of this High Court ,while being the Secretary and Treasurer,
respectively for the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service
Technical and Recreational Services Employees, (AUPCTRE) Judiciary Branch,
Bauchi State, and in such capacities did with intent to defraud obtained as
loan, 3000 units of motorcycle models AX 100 and CG 125 respectively valued at
=N= 217, 000, 000. 00 (Two Hundred and Seventeen Million Naira only), from
De-Damak Nig. Ltd under the false pretence that the motorcycles were to be
distributed to members of the (AUPCTRE) union which you only utilized part and
diverted 1, 170 Units valued at =N= 87, 050, 000. 00 (Eghity Seven Million,
Fifty Thousand Naira) to your personal benefit thereby committed an offence
contrary to Section 1 (1) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee
Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006”.
The
defendants pleaded ‘not guilty’ to all the charges read against them. In view
of their plea, the prosecution counsel Abubakar Aliyu urged the court to fix a
date for trial in line with the practice direction of the Bauchi State High
Court and also to remand the accused persons in prison custody. But the defense
counsel Y. A Garkuwa informed the court that he filed a bail application dated
1st March, 2017 and served same to prosecution.
Justice Sambo adjoined the case to Friday
March 3, 2017 for consideration of bail application, and March 20, 2017 for
trial.
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