The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned the duo of Saadu
Maiwada and Sani Lawal BK before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High
Court on a five-count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
The defendants, in their capacities as then Sub
Treasurer and Deputy Sub Treasurer in the office of Accountant General of
Katsina State, allegedly conspired and converted the sum of N289 million
from the coffers of Katsina State.
Investigation
revealed that the defendants laundered the stolen funds through the account of
Integrated Gas Services Limited, a company where the first defendant (Maiwada)
is a director.
According to the anti-graft agency, the sum of N49
million was also allegedly transferred from the account of Integrated Gas
Services Limited to the personal account of the second defendant (Lawal BK) who
is now the Deputy Accountant General of the state.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Saadu Miawada
and Sani Lawal BK sometime in 2017 in Katsina within the jurisdiction of
this Honourable Court while being entrusted with dominion over money belonging
to Katsina State Government dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of
N120.9 million which was transferred from Katsina State Government Sub
-Treasury Expenditure Account number 1012424374 domiciled in United Bank for
Africa (UBA) PLC to Integrated Gas Services Company Limited’s Fidelity Bank
account no 4010693761 (CO1717299) and you thereby committed an offence
punishable under Section 297 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State 2021”.
Both
defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
In view of
their pleas, counsel for the prosecution, Aisha Tahar Habib prayed the court
for a trial date.
Counsel for
the defendants, J B Israel made an oral bail application on behalf of his
clients but the prosecution objected, demanding for a formal application as the
court is a court of record.
Justice
Danladi, however, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N5 million each
and ordered that each defendant must provide a surety with a landed property
within Katsina and present letters of introduction from a traditional ruler.
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