Kebbi accountant-general arraigned for 1.6bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned Mohammed Arzika Dakingari, the Kebbi state accountant-general, and Musa Yusuf, the managing director of Beal Construction Nigeria limited, before Sabiu Bala, justice of the Kebbi state high court, Birnin-Kebbi, on a 20-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and abuse of office, the commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, has disclosed.

According to him, Dakingari, among other things allegedly used his office as the accountant-general of the state to fraudulently enrich himself.

Particulars of count four of the charge read: “That you Mohammed Arzika Dakingari being the accountant-general of Kebbi state on or about May 2, 2013 in Kebbi state within the jurisdiction of the high court of Kebbi state , did use your office to confer upon yourself, a corrupt advantage for the award of a contract by Kebbi state government to Beal Construction Nigeria limited, (a company on whose board your children are directors and of which you are a signatory to its bank accounts) for the provision of additional structures to the newly established secondary school at Moh’d Mera College, Argungu worth N241,866,556.50, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2010”.

Count two read: “That you Mohammed Arzika Dakingari being the accountant-general of Kebbi state and Musa Yusuf being the managing director, Beal Construction Nigeria limited sometime in October, 2012 in Birnin-Kebbi within the jurisdiction of the high court of Kebbi state, with intent to defraud, did aid Ibrahim Abdullahi Usman, chairman/managing director, Cigale Finance SA Lome-Togo (now at large) to obtain 25 Units of Iveco trucks, property of Karimat Global Trade Links limited valued at N175,000,000.00 only by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences, Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) 0f the same Act”.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

“In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Mahmud Bello urged the court to fix a date for trial to commence while the accused persons are remanded in custody. However, the defence counsel, Suleiman Usman prayed the court to admit his clients to bail pending the commencement of trial. He added that the accused persons were men of integrity and would not jump bail,” Uwujaren explained.

“Justice Bala after listening to both counsels adjourned to November 11, for hearing on the bail application, and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in EFCC custody.”

It would be recalled that the accused persons were to be arraigned on August 28, 2014, but their plea could not be taken following an application by the defence to the court to quash the charge on the grounds that no prima facie case had been established against them.

The defence contended that since there was no link between the accused persons and the alleged offence, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The prosecution, in response, posited that, there was a prima facie case against the accused persons going by the proof of evidence attached to the charge.

“Before the court grant leave to prefer the charge against the accused persons, it had already satisfied itself with the proof of evidence attached to the charge”, the prosecution added.

At the resumed hearing of the case today, the court held that it had jurisdiction to entertain and decide the matter and consequently ordered the accused persons to enter their plea.