N304m fraud: Trial of ex-NIMASA Boss, Jauro, fixed for January 24

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday fixed January 24 for continuation of the trial of a former acting director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, who is facing a N304.1 million fraud charge.

Jauro, who assumed leadership of NIMASA, is charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 counts bordering on fraud.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the defendants, who were arraigned on April 12, last year, had pleaded not guilty to the charges and the court admitted them to a bail in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

The case, which was scheduled for continuation of trial, was stalled yesterday, as the presiding Judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, was said to be away on an official assignment, while the trial was rescheduled for January 24.

Jauro took over from Patrick Apkobolokemi, who is also being prosecuted, alongside others, over alleged multi-billion-naira fraud.

The EFCC alleged that Jauro and others had conspired to defraud NIMASA of N304.1 million between January 2014 and September 2015.