• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
  • E-Book
Home Anti-Corruption Corruption: EFCC Re-Arraigns Sokoto Ex-Perm Sec, Director
  • Anti-Corruption

Corruption: EFCC Re-Arraigns Sokoto Ex-Perm Sec, Director

By
Wilson Uwujaren
-
March 18, 2015
Mohammed Bello Abubakar, former permanent secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sokoto State, and Abubakar Abdullahi Ahmed, a former deputy director in the ministry, being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 43-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and money laundering, were on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 re-arraigned before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Sokoto.
 
The trial of the two civil servants, who are being prosecuted for evidently living beyond their means (as the extent of their assets is not commensurate with their legitimate source of income), actually began in May 2014. 
 
But in a twist of sorts to what has now become a keenly monitored trial, Justice Aikawa on January 30, 2015 at the last hearing of the case, quashed the proceedings of May 21, 2014 on the grounds that the court foisted counsel on the first and third accused persons, and ruled that the trial begin afresh.
 
At the resumption of the fresh trial on Wednesday, prosecution witness, Usman Mohammed Mukhtar, an operative with the EFCC, while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, S. K Atteh, told the court that he received a petition against Abubakar, alleging gross abuse of his position to acquire wealth, which he subsequently investigated.
 
He said, “The petition indicated that he was living a lifestyle not commensurate with his income as a public servant.”
 
The petition was followed up by a discrete investigation, he said, which further exposed various unethical activities by the accused persons.
 
He added: “During investigation, I identified the second accused person (Ahmed), a director of finance (now retired) in the ministry of environment, Sokoto State, formerly deputy director, ministry of local government and community development, Sokoto; the third accused (Rose Gallery Nigeria Limited) and the fourth accused (Silver Spring Concept) were identified as companies where the first accused (Abubakar) is a director and a signatory to the bank accounts; the fifth accused person (Sitex Multi Service Limited) was a company in which the second accused person is a sole signatory to the bank account, with his wife and children as directors of the company.”
 
Abubakar is alleged to be the owner of five companies – Rose Gallery Nigeria Limited, Silver Spring Concept, Gidadawa Global Ventures, BAG Interiors and Eco Habitat Nigeria Limited, which have various bank accounts through which suspicious transfers were made.
 
One of the charges read: “That you, Mohammed Bello Abubakar, while being the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, Sokoto State; Abubakar Abdullahi Ahmed, while being the Deputy Director for Local Government and Community Development, Sokoto State and Rose Gallery Nigeria Limited, on or about the 6th day of May 2008 at Sokoto Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria did collaborate in disguising the illegal origin of the sum of N2,500,000, into Rose Gallery Nigeria Limited’s account number 351337760120 with Guaratee Trust Bank Plc and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.”
 
The charge reads further: “That you Abubakar Ahmed, while being the Director of Finance, Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Sokoto State and Sitex Multi Service Limited, on or about the 9th day of September 2009 at the Sokoto Judicial Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did transfer the sum of N69million from Sokoto State Joint Account into Sitex Multi Service Limited account number 0037193066 in Ecobank Plc with the aim of disguising the illicit origin of the said sum of N40,875,754 so as to evade the consequences of your action and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.”
The court adjourned till March 19, 2015 for continuation of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
Previous articleCourt Jails Pipeline Vandals Five Years
Next articleIGP Orders Tight Security At Key And Vulnerable Points Nationwide
Wilson Uwujaren
Wilson Uwujaren
https://prnigeria.com/

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Court Admits Samuel Aruwan’s Statement in ICPC’s Money Laundering Case Against Ex-El-Rufai Aide

NAHCON

Renewed Hope in Hajj Operations: NAHCON Records Milestone Achievements Under Tinubu Administration

Mohammed Idris Malagi, Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation

FG Reaffirms Non-Interference in ICPC, EFCC Operations

ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

ASUU

Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences Kano Make-Up Artist for Naira Abuse

PRNigeria logo fearured image

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

EFCC, CCC and the Battle Against Corruption in Nigeria, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC Chairman

EFCC’s Anti-Corruption War: Between Media Trial and Intelligence-Driven Operations

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • NDLEA Operatives Nab Businessman After Excreting 127 Wraps of Cocaine at Kano Airport
  • Kanwan Katsina Commends NIPR, Urges Registration for PR Professionals
  • Foreign Hands and the Dangerous Narratives Hurting Nigeria, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi
  • Two Military Generals Sponsor Major Development Projects in Kano Community
  • EFCC Launches Probe as Two Travellers Nabbed Over Undeclared $6.1m, £53,000 at Lagos Airport
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Kanwan Katsina Commends NIPR, Urges Registration for PR ProfessionalsForeign Hands and the Dangerous Narratives Hurting Nigeria, By Mukhtar Ya’u MadobiTwo Military Generals Sponsor Major Development Projects in Kano CommunityEFCC Launches Probe as Two Travellers Nabbed Over Undeclared $6.1m, £53,000 at Lagos AirportTinubu Heads to Rome for Aqaba Process Security SummitTinubu Grants Clemency to 82 Inmates, Pardons Mamman Vatsa, Herbert Macaulay, Farouk LawanTroops Kill 9 Boko Haram Fighters, Recover ₦5m Ransom in BornoIn Scars, Gen. Irabor Chronicles the Human Toll of Boko Haram: 2,700 Soldiers and 350,000 Lives LostGOCOP Elects Danlami Nmodu as President, Inaugurates New EXCOTroops Rescue Kidnapped Victims After Fierce Gun Battle in KwaraNigeria Customs Service Warns Public Against Fake Recruitment ShortlistNigeria Customs Debunks Fake Recruitment Shortlist Circulating on Social MediaTroops Neutralise Four ISWAP Terrorists, Rescue Hostages, Foil Boko Haram Attack in BornoCourt Admits Samuel Aruwan’s Statement in ICPC’s Money Laundering Case Against Ex-El-Rufai AideTroops Crush Terrorist Attack in Ngamdu, Kill Several Insurgents
X whatsapp