The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe Zonal office has arraigned four directors of the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service, before Justice Nehizena I. Afolabi of the Federal High Court, Gombe, on a 25-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and money laundering.
A press statement by EFCC Head, Media & Publicity,. Mr Wilson Uwujaren, Monday in Abuja, named the accused as: the Executive Director, Administration and Finance, Aishatu Yakubu; the Executive Director, Tax Operation, Mohammed Musa Mohammed; the Executive Director, Tax and Audit, Wesley Kumusa Audu; and the Executive Director, Non Tax Operations, Mijinyawa Sani Labaran.
The spokesperson: “The defendants allegedly conspired among themselves to pay several allowances and benefits which amounted to N47m without approval.
“They also awarded fictitious contracts for which payments were released and diverted for their personal use. The payments were made from the national plate number account of the Board which is meant for remittance into the state internally generated revenue,IGR account.”
He said all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and in view of their plea, the Prosecution Counsel, A.Y Muntaka, applied for a date to commence the trial.
Uwujarem said the Defence Counsel, Habu Abdu, however, sought the leave of the court to move the bail application of his clients which was granted by the Judge.
Justice Afolabi granted the defendants bail in the sum of N15m each and two sureties in like sum. One of the surety must be a blood relative of the defendant and the other, a civil servant of level 14 or above.
The sureties, he said, must also be resident within Gombe Metropolitan City and have landed properties with Certificate of Occupancy.
He adjourned the case till February 4, 2020, for trial.
