15 BILLION NAIRA FRAUD: Ex-Sokoto Gov Loses Bid To Stop Trial

Attempts by the former Governor of Sokoto state to abort his trial over an alleged embezzlement of a whooping sum of 15 billion Naira from the treasury of the state while he held forth as the state’s chief executive fell like a park of cards as on Thursday as five applications filed by the former governor at the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, were all dismissed by the appellate court.

Bafarawa and other accused persons were on 16th December, 2009, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Abbas Bello of a Sokoto High Court on a 47-counts charge bordering on fraudulent practices while in office as the Governor of the state

After taking their plea at the trial court, the accused had filed applications to quash and stall their trial, a move which the High Court rejected. Not satisfied with the decision of the court, Bafarawa and his co-accused proceeded to the appeal court to file five different applications, all seeking to  stay proceedings and quash proceedings at the lower court.

Delivering rulings on the applications, the appellate court presided by Justice Dalatu Adamu, dismissed all the applications and directed the accused persons to return to the trial court  for the continuation of their trial.

The former governor, who ruled the North West state of Sokoto between 1999 and 2007 was arrested by EFCC operatives in Abuja on December 9, 2009 and was subsequently arraigned alongside some officials who served in his government, as well as some contractors, for breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds and money laundering, among others.

The other accused persons standing trial alongside the former governor are, Alhaji Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida, Hajia Aishatu Binji, Sen. Salihu Bakwai, Alhaji Salihu Maibuhu Gunmi, Adamu Gurori,  Alhaji Adamu Gurori, Alhaji Habibu Halilu Modaci, and Sambo Bello Danchadi.

The rest are Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed Bida, Chief Mike Umeh, Alhaji Umaru Kwambo, Shehu Koko, Ubale Yahaya, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, and Alhaji Tukur Alkali.

Part of the charges reads: “That you, Alhaji Dalhatu Bafarawa, while being the executive Governor of Sokoto State and Hajia Aishatu Binji whilst being the commissioner for finance of Sokoto State, Shehu Koko , The branch manager, UBA Plc Sokoto and Sokoto State Government accounts officer and others now at large between may 2003 and April 2007, and within the Jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired, without any approval by the State executive council to sell UBA PLC shares belonging to Sokoto State government and there by committed an offence contrary to section 96 ( 1 ) and punishable under section 97 ( 1 ) of the penal code.”

“That you Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa whilst being the executive governor of Sokoto State between May 2003 and April 2007, and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court unilaterally sold to yourself UBA PLC shares belonging to Sokoto state government and there by committed an offence contrary to section 96 (1) and 311 and punishable under section 97 (1), 312, 315, of the penal code.”

By this failed bid to abort their trial, Bafarawa and his co travelers will on Tuesday 8th February return to the Sokoto High Court for their trial to resume.

By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja