ICPC to appeal judgment acquitting ex-governor’s aide over ‘illegal ownership of 220 houses’

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it will appeal the recent court judgement on a case involving Sanusi Mohammed.

Azuka Ogugua, ICPC spokesperson, said this in a statement on Sunday.

BACKGROUND

Mohammed was the personal assistant to Isa Yuguda between 2007 and 2015, when the latter was the governor of Bauchi state.

In 2017, the ICPC said it traced and seized 220 flats located in 20 estates in Bauchi to the aide.

Mohammed was subsequently arraigned at the Bauchi state high court on a 36-count charge bordering on corruption.

On Tuesday, Rabi Umar, the trial judge, discharged and acquitted Mohammed on all the charges and ordered the commission to release the properties.

‘JUDGEMENT NOT IN CONSONANCE WITH EVIDENCE’

Reacting to the verdict, the ICPC said the verdict of the trial judge was not in “consonance with the weight of evidence before the court”.

The anti-graft commission said the properties seized from the defendant were “acquired with state funds and he was only a front for another politically exposed person who is the original owner of the confiscated assets”.

“Part of the evidence presented to the court was the fact that the defendant couldn’t have acquired the 220 two-bedroom and three-bedroom flats, located in 20 estates, and other assets based on his annual salary and allowance. The 220 flats in 20 estates are valued at N1,857,351,750:00,” the statement reads.

“Sanusi Mohammed Isa worked with the Bauchi Investment Corporation from 3rd October, 1989 to 31st December, 2012 before joining the office of the head of civil service, Bauchi on 31st December, 2012 as a director on grade level 16.

“Isa was released for the special assignment of P.A. to the then Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda on 22nd December, 2008.

“By the directives to release him for the special assignment, he was to enjoy his salary and other entitlements of N9,122,388.45 annually from the Bauchi Investment Corporation and was entitled to an allowance of N15,000.00 monthly as a personal assistant to the former governor.”