Justice Aliyu Mayaki of the High Court sitting in Minna, Niger state, on Tuesday, ordered that former Governor of Niger state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, be remanded in prison custody.
The Judge also sent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 governorship elections, Umar Mohammed Nasko, to Prison pending a ruling on bail application for the duo on May 3rd, 2017.
The 1st defendant, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu and 2nd defendant, Umar Mohammed Nasko, are facing six count charges bordering on misappropriation of N4, 568,680,600 belonging to Niger state, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
According to the trial Judge, Mayaki, “the case is to be opened on June 12, 2017 and to be held day-by-day till 16th June and the ruling on bail is to be delivered on 3rd May, 2017. They are to be remanded in Medium Security prisons in Minna.”
Counsel to the EFCC, Gbolahan Latona, said “the Six count charges leveled against the defendants are that: “Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (former Governor of Niger state as Governor and Umar Nasko (as Commissioner for Ministry Environment/Chief of Staff) between 1st January, 2011 and 31st May, 2011 conspired within yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit; criminal breach of trust and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
“Count two, that you, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu between 1st January and 31st May, 2011 dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N520,348,000 which was withdrawn from Niger state Government House Security Account number 1012424374 domociled in Zenith Bank Plc and you thereby committed the offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code punishable under section 312 of the same code.
“Count three, that you, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu sometime between 1st January and 31st December 2011 dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N1,725,837,000 which was withdrawn from Niger state Government House Security Account number 1012424374 domociled in Zenith Bank Plc and you thereby committed the offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code punishable under section 312 of the same code.
“Count four, that Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu as Governor and Umar Nasko (as Commissioner for Ministry Environment/Chief of Staff) between 7th April and 7th December, 2015 while being entrusted with dominion over money belonging to Niger state government dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N1,090,000,000 which formed part of the proceeds of the sale of 16 percent shares of Niger state in North South Power company Limited and you thereby committed the offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code punishable under section 312 of the same code.
“Count five, that you, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu as Governor and Umar Nasko (as Commissioner for Ministry Environment/Chief of Staff) between 7th May and 30th December, 2014 dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N800,000,000 which sum forms part of the Ecological Funds meant for Environmental/Ecological consultancy Project by the Niger state Ministry of Environment for Zone B of Niger state and you thereby committed the offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code punishable under section 312 of the same code.”
“Count Six, that you, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu as Governor and Umar Nasko (as Commissioner for Ministry Environment/Chief of Staff) between May and 30th December, 2014 dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N432,495,600 which sum forms part of the Ecological Funds meant for Environmental/Ecological consultancy Project by the Niger state Ministry of Environment for Zone B of Niger state and you thereby committed the offence contrary to section 311 of the Penal Code punishable under section 312 of the same code.
The defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
