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| Alhaji Sule Lamido and sons entangled with corruption. (Image source: The Nation) |
The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday detained a former Governor of
Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido and two sons ahead of their arraignment before
a court in Kano today. The three detainees have also been flown to Kano
in preparation for their trial in connection with an alleged N1.3billon worth
of contracts. The Nation reports they are being charged on a
24-count relating to alleged mismanagement of over N1.3billion.
Also, the EFCC has arraigned a staff of the Code
of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Abuja, Ali Gambo Abdullahi, before Justice C. N Orji
of the FCT High Court, for an alleged N1.8 million bribery scam.
The Nation report continues:
The suspect faces a two-count on conspiracy,
bribery and abuse of office.
Investigation by our correspondent showed that
Lamido and his two sons were detained after reporting for further
investigation.
But they were informed that they would be flown
to Kano for trial on Wednesday.
A source said: “The investigation of Lamido and
his two sons has reached an appreciable level for their arraignment in a court
in Kano.
“We have been interrogating the former governor
on alleged award of contracts to some companies owned by his children. The
value of the contracts was in the region of about N1.3b.
“We are also looking into allegation of money
laundering against the ex-governor and some of his children. You know one of
the sons of Lamido had been convicted for a similar offence.
“The allegations against Lamido have to do with
alleged mismanagement of funds, money laundering and abuse of office.”
A top official of the EFCC confirmed the
relocation of Lamido from Abuja to Kano.
“The three people have been flown to Kano but our
immediate challenge is that the case has not been assigned to any Federal High
Court judge as I speak with you.
“But we are hopeful that they may be
arraigned on Wednesday or Thursday. They are facing a 24-count
charge bordering on alleged mismanagement of over N1billion.”
Also, the EFCC has arraigned an employee of the
Code of Conduct Tribunal, Ali Gambo Abdullahi, before Justice C.N. Orji of the
Federal High Court, Apo, Abuja.
The suspect is facing a two-count charge on
conspiracy, bribery and abuse of office.
According to a statement by the Head of Media and
Publicity of the EFCC, the suspect’s arrest and subsequent arraignment followed
“a petition from one Rasheed O. Taiwo, who claimed that he paid a bribe of
N1.8million to the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja, Mr. Danladi
Umar, through the accused.
But the chairman of CCT, Umar, had consistently
denied demanding or receiving any bribe sum through the suspect or anybody.
The EFCC however said the petitioner, Taiwo,
alleged that, “Umar who claimed to be presiding over a case in which he was
involved, demanded a N10m (ten million naira) bribe as “settlement”, to give
him a clean bill of health.
”The petitioner further alleged that, after
several negotiations, he paid N1.8m as initial deposit, into the account of Ali
Gambo Abdulllahi, in one of the new generation banks.”
The case has been adjourned
to October 21 and 22 for commencement of trial.
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