The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned a former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba, and the Bursar, Ibrahim Shehu Usman, before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, Kaduna State, on a nine count charges of alleged involvement in N1billion money laundering.
They are alleged to have diverted the monies from different accounts of the institution meant for the renovation of the popular Kongo Conference Hotel, Zaria.
One of the counts reads, “that you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, sometimes in December, 2013, whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves 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 to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
Another count reads, “that you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, between 11th day of January, 2016 and 29th day of June, 2016 whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court concealed the aggregate 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 known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”.
When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded ‘not guilty to the offence.
Based on their not guilty pleas, the prosecuting EFCC lawyer, Jamil Musa, urged the court to remand the defendants at the Kaduna Correctional Centre and fix a date for the commencement of trial.
But defence lawyer, M.S Aatu (SAN) for the first defendant and Bello.I.Jahun for the second defendant urged the court to admit their clients to bail.
Justice Aikawa granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N5million each with one surety each in like sum who must not be below Grade Level 15 in the civil service.
The judge also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the registry of the court, saying they are to further report to EFCC on the first Monday of every month until the court directs otherwise.
The case has been adjourned till June 20-21, 2023 for further hearing.
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