Union Chairman, Three Others Docked Over N90 Million Fraud

Union Chairman, Three Others Docked Over N90 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe office on Monday, November 26, 2018 arraigned the quartet of Abdulrahaman Barau, Chagba Abayol, Muhammad B. Dikko and Mrs. Ruth Magaji Shalli before Justice Hassan Dikko of Federal High Court, Bauchi, Bauchi State on a seven count charge bordering on Conspiracy, Misappropriation and Diversion of Funds.

Their arraignment followed a petition on 9th January, 2018 by G. Hassan & Co; which was filed on behalf of Agriculture and Allied Union of Nigeria, Bauchi State Council Executives, against Comr. Barau former Chairman; Comr. Abayol, former Secretary and Mohammad B. Dikko former Treasurer of the Union.

The petitionerr stated that in March 2009, Agriculture and Allied Employee Union of Nigeria, Bauchi state Council under the leadership of Comrade Umar Idris as the Chairman, took a loan of N90, 000,000.00 (Ninety Million Naira) only from the defunct Equatorial Trust Bank (now Sterling Bank) for the purpose of purchasing 955 units of motorcycles for onward issuance to union members and civil servants in Bauchi State as loan.

Kwajas Dimperl Global Concept Ltd located, in Maiduguri, Borno State was awarded the contract of purchasing the motorcycles which was supplied in 2009. The mode of repayment, as agreed, was that after direct debit from the beneficiaries’ salaries through Accountant General’s office, the money was to be remitted to Equatorial Trust Bank (now Sterling Bank) and not any member of the Union. The loan was inherited by the administration of the three executives (suspects) mentioned above that came to office in 2012 and it was alleged that the three of them went against the repayment procedure. They opened an account with Gary Microfinance Bank in Bauchi where the sum of N36,000,000.00 collected from the State Treasury in cheques were deposited and same was used for their personal purposes.

Count One read “That you, Abdulrahaman Barau, Chagba Abayol, Mohammad B. Dikko, Ruth Magaji Shalli and Kwajas Dimperl Global Concepts Ltd. Sometimes between March, 2013 and November 2016 at Bauchi, Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, the Federal High Court of Nigeria did agree amongst yourselves to commit an illegal Act to wit Conspiracy to obtain monies at the sum of N34,779,059.01 (Thirty Four Million, Seven Hundred And Seventy Nine Thousand And Fifty Nine Naira, One Kobo) from Accountant General’s office Bauchi, Bauchi State by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8 (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other related offence Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(1) of the same Act.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In view of that, the prosecution counsel, Barr. Steve Okemini asked for a date for trial and prayed the court to remand the in prison custody.

The defence counsel to the 1st to 3rd defendants, S. I. Abubakar moved for bail application so also was the 4th and 5th defence counsel, Nathal Umide. But the prosecution counsel moved his counter affidavit in opposition.

The matter was adjourned till 28th November, 2018 for ruling on bail applications and 17th December, 2018 for commencement of trial.