Sokoto official sentenced 10 years, EFCC charges ex-gov, aide afresh

A DEPUTY Director with Sokoto Civil Service, Aminu Mega, has been imprisoned 10 years by the state High Court for a N2.6 million fraud.

The convict, who is in the Infrastructure Department of the Sokoto Agriculture Development Project (SADP), was earlier arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a two-count charge bordering on fraudulent diversion of government funds.

Ruling, Justice Malami Umar found Mega guilty of converting to his personal use the sum ofN2, 626, 500 meant for construction of borehole at SADP Housing Estate in the metropolis.

ALSO, Justice A.B Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Minna, Niger State, yesterday, relisted the N2 billion fraud case involving former state governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his former Chief of Staff, Umar Gado Nasko, setting the stage for their fresh trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the duo on a three-count amended charge of breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N2 billion, which was struck out on June 19, 2020.

Following the abrupt termination of the case, prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdalla, on October 13, 2020, filed a motion to set aside the June 19, 2020 ruling, as well as an order for the relisting of the charge. He supported the application with a 21-paragraph affidavit, deposed to by one Samuel Chime.

Mamman Mike Osman, SAN, counsel to Nasko, who was represented by Iloh Bekeme Asuelemeh, prayed the court to set aside the application, noting that the defence had filed a 33-paragraph counter-affidavit, deposed to by John Kyrian Etuk, and documented as exhibit QJ1-QJ6, which he said, had been adopted as the written address of the defence.

Ruling in favour of the prosecution, the presiding judge reinstated the bail granted to the defendants before adjourning the matter till November 23 and 24 for trial.