EFCC Arraigns Kano Hospital Clerks for N3.2m Fraud
(Olaoluwa Folalu)
Nigeria anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Umar Yusuf and Ibrahim Ahmed Bebeji, both former clerks of National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala, Kano State before Justice Dije Aboki of the State High Court, Kano on a 3-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and theft.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed that Yusuf and Bebeji, between January and September, 2013 allegedly conspired and fraudulently altered information on official revenue receipts in their custody for services rendered to individuals.
It said, an audit report carried out by the Hospital Management revealed that, the sum of N3,331,167 (three million, three hundred and thirty one thousand, one hundred and sixty seven naira) was collected as revenue by the accused. But, the duo declared and paid the sum of N150,314 (one hundred and fifty thousand, three hundred and fourteen naira) to the hospital coffers while pocketing the sum of N3,180,853 (three million, one hundred and eighty thousand, eight hundred and fifty three naira).
One of the charges against the duo at the court reads:
“That you, Umar Yusuf And Ibrahim Ahmad Bebeji between January to September, 2013 in Kano within the judicial division of the High Court of Justice, Kano State, while being clerks of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala, Kano, committed theft of the sum of N3,180,853.00 (three million, one hundred and eighty thousand, eight hundred and fifty three naira only) which was received as part of the revenue accruable to the Hospital and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 286 and punishable under Section 289 of Penal Code.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Counsel to the EFCC, Musa Isa, asked the court for a date for hearing sequel to the plea of the accused persons.
However, the defence counsel urged the court to admit the accused persons to bail.
Justice Aboki granted the accused bail with two sureties of not below Grade Level 12.
The sureties, the judge said, must sign a bond of one million naira each and the accused are to be remanded in prison custody until their bail conditions are met.
The case has been adjourned to October 8, 2015 for commencement of trial.
