Goje forged document to steal N5bn, witness tells court

Shehu Atiku, a witness in the trial of Danjuma Goje, a former governor of Gombe state and serving senator, has told a federal high court in Gombe that the ex-governor forged the resolution of the state house of assembly to collect N5 billion facility from Access Bank.

“My Lord, the said resolution did not emanate from the Gombe state house of assembly and I was not a signatory to it”, said Atiku, a former clerk of the Gombe state house of assembly and one of the three witnesses called by prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shitu.

According Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Atiku said in his testimony before the court: “As the admin officer of the house, I chair management committee of the house, keep the record of house proceedings and maintain its records.

“However, the court had to cut short the proceeding and adjourn for further hearing owing to the fracas that ensued as suspected political thugs invaded the court premises and disrupted the proceedings.

“The thugs also launched attack on the accused persons and others outside the court premises during which the second accused person, Aliyu el-Nafarty and one other person were seriously wounded.

“In the melee, vehicles were vandalised including that of the defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN). The attack forced the presiding judge, Justice B. O. Quadri to adjourn to November 25, 2015.

“Justice Quadir condemned the attack and directed both counsel to do a report on what happened, which he promised to forward to the chief judge, federal high court for necessary action Goje, alongside four other accused persons are being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges of conspiracy, money laundering and embezzlement of funds belonging to the state government.”