Professor Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, former Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, were arraigned before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, Kaduna State, on nine counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of over N1 billion by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (EFCC).
They are accused of diverting funds from the institution’s various accounts intended for the refurbishment of the renowned Kongo Conference Hotel in Zaria.
One of the counts reads, “that you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, sometime in December, 2013, whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to use the aggregate sum of N998, 000,000.00(Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight Million Naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
Another count reads, “that you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, between 11th day of January, 2016 and 29th day of June, 2016 whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court concealed the aggregate sum of N119,923,730.00(One Hundred and Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Naira) in USIG NIGERIA LIMITED’s account No. 1402548014 domiciled in First City Monument Bank Plc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”.
As the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution counsel, Jamil Musa, sought the court to detain the defendants at the Kaduna Correctional Centre and set a date for the start of trial based on their pleas.
M.S Aatu (SAN) for the first defendant and Bello I. Jahun for the second defendant petitioned the court to release their clients on bail.
Judge Aikawa granted the defendants bail in the amount of five million naira apiece, with one surety in the same amount who must not be below Grade Level 15 in the civil service.
The defendants must also leave their international passports at the court registry.
They must also report to the EFCC on the first Monday of each month until the court orders otherwise.
The matter has been rescheduled for hearing on June 20-21, 2023.
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