N4.56bn fraud: Court remands ex-Gov Aliyu in prison custody

Justice Aliyu Maiyaki of a Minna High Court on Tuesday remanded the former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, in prison custody.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Aliyu and other defendant, following their alleged involvement in about N4.568 billion fraud and abuse of office.

The ex-Governor was arraigned alongside his former Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko, on a six-count charge of criminal breach of trust, punishable under Section 97 and 312 of the Penal Code.

The Daily Times recalls that Nasko was the state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2015 poll while he lost to Governor Abubakar Bello of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aliyu and other accused were accused of conspiring and dishonestly converting to personal use funds amounting to N4.568 billion belonging to the Niger State Government.

The EFCC further alleged that the funds are for ecological projects, as well as proceeds realised from the sale of 16 per cent shares of the state in the North-South Power Company.

But the lawyers to Aliyu and Nasko, Mr. Ayodele Oladeji and Mamman Osuman, had urged the court to admit their clients to bail just as the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

The lawyers further argued that their clients were always available when invited by the EFCC, saying that there was no evidence they would jump bail.

The lawyers, however, urged the court to remand their clients in EFCC custody, if the court was going to fix a date for hearing of the bail application.

But the lawyer to the EFCC, Mr. Gbolahan Latona, opposed the bail application, insisting that the development would jeopardise investigations.

Latona also opposed remanding the defendants in EFCC custody, arguing that accused persons were usually remanded in prison custody once the court takes `cognisance of the case.’

In his pronouncement on the matter, Justice Maiyaki ordered that Aliyu and Nasko should be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till May 3 for ruling on the bail application.

Ex-Governor Aliyu ruled the state between 2007 and 2015 and had been in the EFCC custody since April 4.