The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arraigned a former Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Gusau, Prof Magaji Garba, before Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former Vice Chancellor, following his alleged involvement in a five-count charge of obtaining N260million by false pretence and forgery
He was said to have extorted various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a N3billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the University.
According to the EFCC, the offence is contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count two of the charge reads in part, “That you, Prof Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 15th of May, 2019 in Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N100million from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of N3billion which representation/pretense you knew to be false”.
Count three reads in part: “That you, Prof Magji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 1st August, 2019 with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150million from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contract executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the Federal University, Gusau under the false presence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of N3billion which representation/ pretense you knew to be false”.
When the charge was read to Garba, he pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the offence .Upon his plea, lawyer to the EFCC, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, asked for a trial date and requested that the former Vice Chancellor be remanded in prison custody.
But the lawyer to Garba, R. Usman, urged the court to grant bail to his client. The application was however opposed by Tahir on the grounds that he was only served on Tuesday at about 10:33 am and he needed time to respond.
After listening to the argument of the parties, Justice Aliyu adjourned the matter until Thursday for the hearing of the bail application and remand the former Vice Chancellor in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
