The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged a former vice-chancellor and bursar of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, with fraud totaling N1 billion.
According to an EFCC statement, the former vice-chancellor, Ibrahim Garba, and the bursar, Ibrahim Shehu Usman, were arraigned on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the accused are accused of diverting funds from various accounts of the institution intended for the renovation of the popular Kongo Conference Hotel in Zaria.
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
“That you, Prof. Ibrahim,” read one of the counts.
Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman conspired amongst yourselves in December 2013, while serving as Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, to use the aggregate sum of N998, 000,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million Naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity, namely Criminal Breach of Trust, and you
Another count stated, “that between the 11th of January 2016 and the 29th of June 2016, you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman,
whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court concealed the sum of N119,923,730.00 (One Hundred and Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Naira) in USIG NIGERIA LIMITED’s account No.
1402548014 domiciled in First City Monument Bank Plc, which sum you reasonably ought to have The prosecuting counsel, Jamil Musa, urged the court to remand the defendants based on their pleas.
Kaduna Correctional Centre and set a date for the start of the trial.
M.S Aatu (SAN) for the first defendant and Bello.I. Jahun for the second defendant urged the court to release their clients on bail.
Justice Aikawa granted the defendants bail in the amount of five million naira each, with one surety in the same amount who must not be below Grade Level 15 in the civil service.
The defendants must also leave their international passports at the court registry. They must also report to the EFCC on the first Monday of each month until the court orders otherwise.
The case has been rescheduled for hearing on June 20-21, 2023.
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