Ex-Bauchi Finance Commissioner, 3 Others Docked for N214. 7m Scam

Lanre Babalola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Thursday arraigned the quartet of Garba Dahiru, Halliru Abdullahi, Sale Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya before Justice M. Shittu of the Federal High Court Bauchi on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy and accepting cash payment exceeding the threshold provided by law.

Dahiru, a former commissioner of finance in Bauchi State along side three other defendants, in their capacities as members of the fund raising committee of their political party,were alleged to have received cash payment of N214,770,000 during the campaign for the 2015 general elections, beyond the threshold provided by law, thereby violating the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.

One of the charges reads: “That you, GARBA DAHIRU, and HALLIRU ABDULLAHI, all members of finance and funds disbursement committee of People Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general elections, and in such capacities, sometime in March, 2015 in Bauchi, Bauchi State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did accept cash payment of N172,310, 000 from the Directorate of Finance, Bauchi State PDP Campaign Organisation exceeding the required threshold of cash payment, thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 1, 16 (1) (d) and Punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended)”.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

While adjourning the case to 16th and 17th October, 2018. Justice Shitu granted all the defendants bail in the sum of N50 million each and two sureties in like sum, one of who must be a resident of Bauchi with landed property in the jurisdiction.