In our review of high profile corruption trials today, former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido was entangled in a N1.3 billion misappropriation charge.
Also, former Director in the Police Pension Office, Mr Esai Dangabar, and other defendants were docked in a whopping N25 billion fraud case which was ongoing before the sudden death of Mr. Dangabar.
Read on:
Esai Dangabar – N24 billion fraud
The trial of former Director in the Police Pension Office, Mr Esai Dangabar, suffered a setback on Thursday October 18, 2019, following his death.
The development made the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a motion before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
In the suit, the anti-graft agency sought to amend the charges in the criminal breach of trust and fraud to the tune of N14 billion in the police pension scheme, following the death of Dangabar who was the principal defendant and was facing charges alongside others.
At the resumption of the trial, proceedings were stalled when the lead defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced to the court the death of Dangabar whom he said died on July 24, 2019.
In his reaction, the prosecution counsel, A. Atolagbe, described Dangabar’s death as unfortunate and extended his condolences to his family.
He therefore prayed the court for more time to amend the charges since the deceased was no longer alive.
Atolagbe said: “My lord, I have seen the death certificate of the first defendant. It’s quite unfortunate”.
Justice Hussein also extended his sympathy to the family of the deceased and adjourned the case till December 5, for necessary amendments to the charges.
Esai Dangabar was a former director at the Police Pension Office. He along with Atiku Abubakar Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, Uzoma Cyril Attang and Christain Madubuke were alleged to have defrauded the Police Pension Office to the tune of N24 billion.
They were consequently arraigned on April 10, 2013 on a 20-count amended charge bordering on criminal breach of trust contrary to section 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
At the resumed hearing, the court admitted as exhibit, a letter titled “Reinvestigation Activities” dated January 6, 2014 which the prosecution had sought to tender as exhibit.
The case was adjourned to December 5, 2019, for necessary amendments to the charges.
Sule Lamido – N1.3 billion misappropriation
A Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday April 5, 2019, admitted more documents presented to it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in evidence against a former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and others.
The documents were tendered and admitted in evidence.
The trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, adjourned the matter to May 20, 21 and 22, 2019, for the continuation of trial.
Lamido was arraigned alongside two of his sons and others. He and his co-accused were arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Kano on July 9, 2015 for allegedly misappropriating funds belonging to Jigawa State.
They were arraigned alongside four companies where the Lamidos are believed to have interest.
The companies are Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamiana Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminum Limited and Speeds International Limited. In July 2017, they were re-arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
That was after Justice Babatunde Quadri dismissed an application by the ex- governor that his case be returned to the former trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola.
In refusing the application, Justice Quadri held that it would better serve the interest of justice and public peace not to return the case to Justice Ademola.
The court, however, granted them bail in various sums and two sureties each after pleading not guilty to the alleged offences.
While the former Governor was granted bail in the sum of N100 million, others including his two sons got N50 million bail each with the same number of sureties.
Again, the EFCC, on Wednesday October 24, 2018 re-arraigned Lamido on a 43-count amended charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.
The case is still pending as trial continues.
Read also:
High profile corruption: Oronsaye, Teidi Shaibu, Omatseye in alleged N12b fraud
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[This Publication includes part of a compendium by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) covering corruption cases as at 22nd of November, 2019.]