By Mohammed Munirat Nasir : Federal High Court Holden in Gusau, Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria on Monday granted bail to former National Planning Minister, Bashir Yuguda and three others charged to court by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged misappropriation of N450 million.
In her ruling, the Presiding Judge, Justice Fatima Murtala Aminu granted the former minister and the three others bail after meeting all the bail conditions which included two sureties with landed property in Gusau worth over N15M each and also that the defendants drop their international passports.
Justice Fatima then adjourned the case to 27-28 June, for trial.
The defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges while the Defence counsel, John Charlie Shaka prayed the court to grant the defendants bail which the prosecution counsel, Johnson Ojogbane did not object.
Those charged along with ex- minister Yuguda are former governor Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi who is alleged to have collected N15M cash from Yuguda , former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman, Ibrahim Malaha and Aminu Nahuche, a one time Secretary to the Zamfara State government.
According to the EFCC 5 count charge sheet dated 4th May, 2018 and signed by Johnson Ojogbane and Musa Isa of the Legal and Prosecution Department of the EFCC, states that on 27th March, 2015 within the jurisdiction of the court, Ambassador Yuguda received cash payment of the sum of N450M from Odia Akpofune without transacting or receiving same from financial institution.
The defendant thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same act.
The second count states that the former governor, Shinkafi on 27 the March, 2015 received cash payment of the sum of N15 from Yuguda without transacting or receiving through financial institution an offence punishable under section 16 (2) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) act.
The third count states that Yuguda, Aminu Nahuche and Ibrahim on the 27th March, 2015 took possession of the sum of N450M which fund reasonably ought to have formed part of the proceed of an unlawful act of Diezini Allision Maduake to which gratification commit an offence contrary to section15 (2)(d) of the Money Laundering Act and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/03/29/news/nigerias-anti-corruption-body-efcc-leads-further-evidences-in-trial-of-kalu-on-n3-2bn-fraud/
