Court Acquit, Discharge Four Ex-Staff Of Plateau Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Accused Of Criminal Breach, Embezzlement

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has discharged and acquitted four former staff of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on allegations bordering on, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of public funds, and embezzlement including other charges.

The ex-staff include Engr. Danlami Abdullahi Mohammed, Bala Ibrahim , Ibrahim Garba Kam, and the Saidu Garba Bangwas who are  alleged to have  committed, criminal breach of trust,  misappropriation of public funds, and embezzlement including other charges, were all discharged and acquitted

Justice Christy Dabup of the Plateau State High Court said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Complainant didn’t establish proof on the defendants whether the money meant for intending hajj of Muslims Pilgrim Board was diverted into the personal accounts of the defendants.

She stressed that ( EFCC) PW1-PW 3 gave conflicting statements that can’t be linked to the defendants whether the payments made in 2015 for the Hajj travel were not refunded, the PW5 who is a witness to the complainant gave evidence in favor of the defendants by contradicting himself during his cross-examination.

The court established that it was satisfied with the 3rd defendant’s explanation by telling the court that the money was refunded back to them which amounted to N23 million and the court said the issue of forgery allegations can’t stand and won’t drive the balance from the prosecution counsel.

Speaking shortly with the defendants’ counsel, Barr Nantok Dashwur he said: “well in my own opinion the judgment is sound it is solid and can stand the test of time which can be backed up by law.

He explained that “My Lord, Honourable Justice has displayed despondent in the industry for the upcoming to emulate her kind of judgment. My clients have been standing trial on a five-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery this is the main background of the five-count charges and the remaining is a conspiracy which is all related to them”.

According to him, ” the complainant who is the EFCC is prosecuting these defendants that there were 2015 hajj money operations and this money was not refunded to the intending hajj travelers that the defendants embezzled or misappropriated the fund.

He said, we the defendants have shown the court that on allegations that some hajj money in 2015, we have proved to the court that the EFCC couldn’t prove his case against them.

He noted that one of the defunct staff of the board wrote a petition before the EFCC which now generated allegations about who was appointed but couldn’t take the mantle of the office as the DFS.

He urged the court to grant his prayers of money amounting to N2.3 million that is with the exhibits department including N300,000.00 to be returned back to Engr Danlami Abdullahi Mohammed and the court graciously granted them.

In his swift reaction, Abdullahi Mohammed celebrated the EFCC, the judge, and his counsel for bringing an end to five years of litigation that had paralyzed him from gaining an appointment with the responsible government.

He said, I’m highly excited and am very grateful to Almighty Allah by also Thanking my counsel and EFCC that the matter is over I’m as free to take an appointment.