A Federal High Court sitting in Minna, Niger State yesterday remanded the former governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and the 2015 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Nasko, in Tunga Prison, Minna.
Nasko served as chief of staff and commissioner for Environment under Aliyu’s administration between 2007 and 2015.
The order of remand by Justice Aliyu Maiyaki followed the arraignment of the accused persons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged N3.36 billion fraud.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the ex-governor, called “the chief servant”, among other things, was accused of allegedly diverting N520 million from the Niger State Government Security Account domiciled in Zenith Bank between January and March 2011.
Within the same period, the former governor was also alleged to have diverted N1.7 billion from the same account.
Aliyu and Nasko were accused of diverting about N1.09 billion, which amounted to the proceeds of 16 per cent shares of Niger State in the North South Power Company Limited.
The alleged crimes are believed to be in contravention of sections 97 and 312 of the Penal Code.
They were arraigned on a six-count charge of criminal breach of trust; allegedly withdrawing N2.246 billion from Niger State Government House Security Account; and converting 16 per cent shares of Niger State in North South Power Company Limited into personal use among others.
The statement said: “The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
“Upon their plea, Gbolahan Latona, counsel to EFCC, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in prison custody pending trial.
“However, Ayodele Oladeji (SAN) and Mamman Osman (SAN), representing the first and second defendants, informed the court of the pending applications for the bail of their clients.
Justice Maiyaki, however adjourned to May 3, for hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendants to be remanded in Tunga prison custody in Minna.
