N7m Fraud: Two Zamfara State Officials Arraigned …To Spend Sallah in Prison
Olatomiwa Ajigi
A Federal High Court sitting in Gusau Zamfara State presided over by Justice Fatima Murtala has remanded two officials of the Zamfara State Universal Education Board in prison custody tillJuly 7, 2016 for ruling on their bail applications and trial.
The two officials, Gambo Lawal Tsafe, the Director of Works of the Board, and the Board’s Accountant, Kasimu Muhammad were arraigned June 21, 2016 on a three count charge of Conspiracy and Money Laundering. The duo allegedly collected N7.4million bribe from a contractor, one Nasiru Nahoro, who constructed conference room at the Board’s Headquarters for N74m. The amount represented 10% of the contract sum.
One of the charges reads “that you Gambo Lawal Tsafe (while being the Director of Works of ZASUBEB) and Kasimu Muhammad (while being the Accountant of ZASUBEB) between July and August, 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Hononourable Court did conspire between yourselves to commit an offence to wit, money laundering contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 15 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the three counts of the charge. Consequently, the prosecuting counsel, M.S Abubakar requested for a date for trial. The defence counsel, B.T Aza did not oppose the request but applied for bail of the defendants which was opposed by the prosecution. After listening to arguments of both counsel, the trial Judge adjourned the case toJuly 7, 2016 for ruling on bail application and trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.