The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned a former
\nNiger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu and his Commissioner for
\nEnvironment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources, Umar Mohammed Nasko,
\nbefore Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on an
\neight-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.46
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
One of the counts reads: “That you, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (whilst
\nbeing the Executive Governor of Niger State) and Umar Mohammed Nasko
\n(whilst being the Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest
\nResources in Niger State) on or about 23rd July, 2014 within the
\njurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did indirectly take control of the
\naggregate sum of N478,495,600 (Four Hundred and Seventy Eighty Million,
\nFour Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Six Hundred Naira only) out of the
\nsum of N487,495,600 (Four Hundred and Eighty Seven Million, Four Hundred
\nand Ninety Five Thousand, Six Hundred Naira only) paid by the Niger State
\nMinistry of Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources to MJ Eco
\nProjects Limited for environmental\/ecological consultancy project awarded
\nto the company in respect of Zone B of Niger State which money you
\nreasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an offense
\nunlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offencs contrary
\nto section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering\u00a0 (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as
\namended) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.”<\/p>\n
They pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges.<\/p>\n
In view of the plea, the prosecution counsel, Prince Ben Ikani, asked for
\na date for trial to commence, and urged the court to remand the defendants
\nin prison custody.<\/p>\n
Counsel to Aliyu, Olajide Ayodele, SAN, however, urged the court to admit
\nhis client to bail.<\/p>\n
“There is a summons, which seeks for the application to be heard and if
\nthe court is ready the application will be heard as the prosecution has
\nbeen served with it,” Ayodele said.<\/p>\n
However, Ikani told the court that he was yet to be served with the motion
\nfor Aliyu’s bail but had received that of Nasko.<\/p>\n
“We are interested in a speedy trial,” Ikani said.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the proceedings, Mamman Osman, SAN, brought before the court a
\npreliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court. His
\nargument was however, countered by Ikani, who quoting Section 396 of the
\nAdministration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, noted that \u201cthe application
\nis premature as the business of the day is for the arraignment\u201d.<\/p>\n
Justice Dimgba, thereafter, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of
\nN200million with two sureties each, who must be a public servant or a
\nprofessional not less than the rank of a Director.<\/p>\n
“The sureties must own houses in Abuja Metropolis excluding the satellite
\ntowns. The defendants are also to deposit their international passports
\nwith the registrar of the court and must not travel except with the
\npermission of the court,” the trial judge ruled.<\/p>\n
The Court Registrar and the EFCC are to verify and ensure that the bail The matter has been adjourned to July 6 and 7, 2017<\/span><\/span> for commencement of It would be recalled that the EFCC had on April 25, 2017 arraigned the two The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned a former Niger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu and his Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources, Umar Mohammed Nasko, before…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nconditions are met within 48 hours<\/span><\/span> and if not they are to be remanded in
\nKuje Prison.<\/p>\n
\ntrial.<\/p>\n
\ndefendants before the Niger State High Court on a six-count charge
\nbordering on misappropriation of public funds, and “diversion of proceeds
\nof the sale of 16 per cent shares of the sale of Niger State in the North
\nSouth Power Company Limited”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"