Councillor, Director, cashiers arraigned for diversion of salaries

Juliana Francis

A local government councilor, a director and cashiers were among those arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged diversion of workers’ salaries in Sokoto State.

The defendants, Tukur Lando Yabo, Director Works, Tureta Local Government Area, Honourable Abubakar Nasarawa Maigishiri, a Councillor in the Local Government, Sambo Abdullahi, Cashier, Ministry for Local Government Chieftaincy Affairs, Danjuma Ibrahim, Cashier, Ministry of Social Welfare, Sokoto State,

 and Abubakar Salihu Tureta, were arraigned before Justice Bello Duwale of the Sokoto State High Court on six count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and diversion of workers salary to the tune of N980,000.

The defendants were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sokoto Zonal Office yesterday.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, while confirming the arraignment, explained that the troubles of the defendants started after the Commission received a petition from Umar Shehu, alleging that some employees of Sokoto Marshal Corps/ Neighborhood Watch of Tureta Local Government had not been paid their salaries for April, May and June, respectively. He further alleged that the defendants refused to pay their salaries and diverted the money for their personal use.

Count one of the charge reads: "That you Abubakar Salihu Tureta, Tukur Lando and Abubakar Nasarawa sometime in June, 2019 at Sokoto within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Justice, Sokoto State being entrusted with property, to wit N150,000.00k belonging to 15 staff of Neighbourhood Watch Operatives in Tureta L.G.A, dishonestly converted the said property to your use and thereby committed Criminal Breach of Trust, an offence punishable under Section 301 of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019."

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Buhari Muhammad Balarabe asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.

However, counsel to the defendant, Anayo Illo told the court that he had filed a bail application for his clients at the court registry. He urged the court to give him a short date for bail hearing.   

Duwale adjourned the case until 18 November, 2019 for bail hearing and 5 December, 2019 for trial. The defendants are to be remanded in EFCC custody pending the determination of their bail application.

Similarly, the EFCC Kaduna Zonal Office has arraigned Honourable Theophilus Madami before Justice Mohammed Tukur of the Kaduna State High Court, on a two count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.

The defendant, a Councillor representing Kakuri Hausa Ward, Kaduna South Local Government, Kaduna State is alleged to have refused to pay a balance of N11,080,000, 

to Pyramid Supplied Services Limited for the supply of Pasta Foods worth N16,080,000 to Kaduna South Local Government.

Count one reads: "that you Hon. Theophilus Madami on or about the 5th of November 2018 in Kaduna, within the judicial division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained 4,020 of PASTA FOODS PRODUCTS worth N11,080,000 only property of Pyramid Supplies and Services Limited, when you induced one Ibrahim Ringim Haruna through a medium of a delivery note for the supply of the said products purportedly demanded by the Kaduna South Local Government Area, a pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him prompting EFCC counsel, M.Lawal to ask the court to fix a date for commencement of trial while the defendant is remanded in a Correctional Service Centre.

Counsel to the defendant, P.E Wada however urged the court to admit his client to bail to enable him prepare for his trial.

However, Justice Tukur in his ruling remanded the defendant in custody and adjourned until March 25, 2020 for hearing.