The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, June 29, 2015 arraigned Yau Mohammed Gital, Shuaibu Yakubu, Jibiril M. Tahir and Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited before Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court Gudu, Abuja, on a 10-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, conspiracy and forgery to the tune of N192,000,000 (one hundred and ninety-two million naira).
Gital, a former Chief of Staff to the FCT minister and member of the Land Allocation Committee, Federal Capital Territory Administration, allegedly conspired with Shuaibu Yakubu, a former special assistant to the Chief of Staff, Jibril M. Tahir, the Managing Director, Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited, to obtain money from various unsuspecting persons under the false pretence that the money was for processing and facilitation of land allocation by the Federal Capital Development Authority.
Count one reads:
“That you, Yau Mohammed Gital, being the Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and member of the Land Allocation Committee, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Shuaibu Yakubu, being a former Special Assistant to the former Chief of Staff, Jibril M. Tahir, being the Managing Director of Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited and Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited sometimes between September 2012 to March 2014 in Abuja within the Jurisdiction of the High court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, with intent to defraud, conspired to do an illegal act, to wit: obtain monies by false pretences from various unsuspecting persons under the false pretence that the said monies was for the processing/facilitation of land allocation by the Federal Capital Development Authority which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
However, the accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
In view of their pleas, counsel to the accused persons, Nura Imam, urged the court to admit them to bail while awaiting trial.
Justice Bello ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to July 2, 2015 for ruling on the bail application.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
