ICPC to appeal ex-Bauchi gov aide’s acquittal

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has vowed to appeal the ruling of the Bauchi State High Court which discharged and acquitted Sanusi Isa, a former personal assistant to ex-governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda.

The anti-graft agency’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, revealed this in a Sunday statement obtained by our correspondent.

Ogugua noted that the Chief Judge of Bauchi State and the presiding judge in the case, Justice Rabi Umar, had on December 13, 2022, discharged and acquitted Sanusi Isa of all the 36 counts against him bordering on corruption, and ordered the release of all his properties in the possession of the ICPC.

She added that the ICPC traced and seized 220 flats, located in 20 estates, belonging to Sanusi Isa in 2017. The houses range from two-bedroom to three-bedroom flats.

Other items seized were sophisticated guns, rounds of ammunition, exotic cars, designer watches, bales of brocade and air conditioners.

According to Ogugua, the ICPC expresses its dissatisfaction in the discharge and acquittal of Isa by the Bauchi State High Court, adding that it avers that the court’s judgment is not in consonance with the weight of evidence before the court, including its refusal to allow civil forfeiture.

She revealed that part of the evidence presented to the court was the fact that the defendant couldn’t have acquired the 220 two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats, located in 20 estates, and other assets based on his annual salary and allowance. The 220 flats in 20 estates are valued at N1,857,351,750:00.