Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
A former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Prof. Ibrahim Garba and a former Bursar of the institution, Ibrahim Shehu Usman, were yesterday arraigned before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of over N1billion, by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A statement by the spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the duo were alleged to have diverted the monies from different accounts of the institution meant for the renovation of the popular Kongo Conference Hotel, Zaria.
One of the counts read, “that you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, sometimes in December, 2013, whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to use the aggregate sum of N998, 000,000.00 which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Another count read, “that you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, between 11th day of January, 2016 and 29th day of June, 2016 whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court concealed the aggregate sum of N119,923,730.00 in USIG NIGERIA LIMITED’s account No. 1402548014 domiciled in First City Monument Bank Plc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: criminal breach of trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
They pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to them.
Based on their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Jamil Musa urged the court to remand the defendants at the Kaduna Correctional Centre and fix a date for the commencement of trial.
The defence counsel, M.S Aatu (SAN) for the 1st defendant and Bello I. Jahun for the 2nd defendant urged the court to admit their clients to bail.
Justice Aikawa granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N5 million each with one surety each in like sum who must not be below Grade Level 15 in the civil service.
The defendants must also deposit their international passports with the registry of the court. They are to further report to EFCC on the first Monday of every month until the court directs otherwise.
The case was adjourned till June 20-21, 2023, for hearing
