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N450m fraud: You have case to answer, Court tells former Minister, Abdul Bulama, four others

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Justice Fadima Aminu of the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State, ordered former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdul Bulama and four others to enter their defence in the N450 million fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ruling on a no-case submission by the defendants, Justice Aminu held that, “based on the testimonies of witnesses and exhibits tendered before the court,” the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendant to warrant them to enter their defence.

The court consequently adjourned till October 19-20, 2023 for the defendant to open their defence.

The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC is prosecuting Bulama on a seven-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N450 million (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira).

Bulama was re-arraigned on Monday, November 8, 2021 alongside Hon. Mohammed Kadai, a former Commissioner for Integrated and Rural Development in Yobe State, Abba Gana Tata, Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn Jaks.

The ex-minister served as the Coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election Campaign Committee in Yobe State, while Kadai was his Deputy, with the other three defendants as members. They were alleged to have received the said sum in order to influence the outcome of the 2015 Presidential election.

Count one of the charges reads, “That you, DR. ABDU BULAMA, HON. MOHAMMED KADAI, ABBAs GANA TATA, MUHAMMAD MAMU AND HASSAN IBN JAKS on or about the 27th day of March, 2015 at Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree among yourselves to do illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.”

Upon re-arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts and the matter proceeded to trial. In the course of trial, counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed presented five witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence before the court before closing its case.

Rather than open their defence the defendants opted for a no case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

Crime

JUST IN: Bandits kill three, kidnap 120 villagers in Zamfara community

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No fewer than three persons have been reportedly killed and over 120 others abducted as notorious bandits attacked Goran Namaye community in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to a resident in the area, who gave his name as Abubakar Muhammad, the terrorists invaded the town at about 1:17 am on Thursday, operating from house to house.

He further stated that the kidnapped persons were mainly women and men, adding that the terrorists also killed three people during their operation.

“The whereabouts of many members of the community could not be traced, and it is very clear that we lost three of our men to the tragic operation,” he added.

Speaking further, Muhammad pointed out that the bandits came in large numbers, on motorcycles with sophisticated weapons, and surrounded the community as the people were running helter-skelter to save their lives.

“They took us unaware as the whole people were running helter-skelter without direction, and they started house-to-house operations and chased our people, mainly women, into the forest.”

As of the time of filing this report, the security agencies in the state have not made any official statement regarding the incident.

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Man, 37, arrested for tampering with corpse in Ibadan

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Man, 37, arrested for tampering with corpse in Ibada. The Police in Ibadan on Wednesday arraigned one Sulaiman Ikudaisi, 37, who allegedly tampered with a corpse.

Ikudaisi, whose address was not provided, is charged with tampering with corpse but he pleaded not guilty before an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Insp Toyin Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 11 at 3.00 p.m. at Muslim Cemetery, Ibadan.

Ibrahim alleged that the defendant removed some bones from the corpse, in contravention of Section 242(1)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

The Magistrate, Mrs Kausarat Ayofe, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case until July 16 for hearing.

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Crime

Spare parts dealer reveals threats to life

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The Leader Igbo Association of Spare Part Dealer Association at Ladipo Market, Jiakpo Solomon Akachukwu, has said his life and that of his family has been under constant threat for a reason yet to be known to him.

He explained that he has received several calls and messages of which he has been warned to leave Lagos State and relocate to the village. He added that some of his properties including his car windscreen and other household items were damaged by those threatening his life.

According to him, my wife and little baby who is under 2years cannot go out without security. So I took this step to inform the authorities concerned that I was told to leave the market and the state if I love my life.

Jiakpo however appealed to the security agency, to please come to his aid, as his life and that of his family are no longer safe.

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