He Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted a former vice-chancellor and treasurer of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in Kaduna state for more than N1 billion of fraud.
Former treasurer Ibrahim Shehu (Credit: EFCC)
The former vice chancellor, Ibrahim Garba, and the treasurer, Ibrahim Shehu Usman, were indicted at the Kaduna Federal High Court on Wednesday, according to a statement from the EFCC.
Former vice chancellor, Ibrahim Garba (Credit: EFCC)
The EFCC, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, charged the defendants with nine counts of money laundering involving the diversion of various amounts of money from different university accounts.
He said the funds diverted were earmarked for the renovation of the popular Kongo Conference Hotel, Zaria.
They allegedly siphoned funds from university accounts at various times in 2013 and 2016.
But the defendants denied the charges by pleading not guilty during their arraignment before the judge, RM Aikawa.
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Subsequently, the judge granted them bail and adjourned the hearing until June 20 and 21 for the trial.
READ THE FULL EFCC STATEMENT
EFCC press release
Ex-ABU VC, treasurer fired for N1bn fraud
Professor Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, former Vice Chancellor and Treasurer respectively of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, were arraigned today, March 29, 2023, before Judge RM Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, Kaduna State , on a nine-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of over a billion dollars by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
It is alleged that they diverted money from different accounts of the institution intended for the renovation of the popular Kongo Conference Hotel, Zaria.
One of the charges reads: “that you, Professor Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, sometime in December 2013, while Vice Chancellor and Treasurer of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired among you. to use the total sum of N998, 000,000.00 (nine hundred and ninety-eight million naira), the sum of which you should have reasonably known to be part of the proceeds of your illegal activity viz: Breach of criminal trust and thereby committed a contrary offense to Section 18(a), 15(2)(d) of the Prohibition of Money Laundering Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.
Another account says, “that you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, between January 11, 2016 and June 29, 2016 while Vice Chancellor and Treasurer of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court concealed the total sum of N119,923,730.00 (one hundred and nineteen million, nine hundred and twenty-three thousand, seven hundred and thirty naira) in account no. 1402548014 of USIG NIGERIA LIMITED domiciled at First City Monument Bank Plc, the sum of which he should have reasonably known to be part of the proceeds of his unlawful activity, namely: Breach of criminal trust and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15 (2) (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act Law of Money 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same law”.
They pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read.
Based on their pleadings, the prosecution’s lawyer, Jamil Musa, urged the court to send the defendants to the Kaduna Correctional Center and set a date for the start of the trial.
The defense lawyer, MS Aatu (SAN) of the first defendant and Bello.I.Jahun of the second defendant urged the court to admit their clients on bail.
Judge Aikawa granted the defendants bail in the sum of five million naira each with a guarantee each for the same sum that they must not be below grade 15 level in the civil service. Defendants must also deposit their international passports with the court registry. They must report further to EFCC on the first Monday of each month until the court directs otherwise.
The case has been adjourned until June 20-21, 2023 for a hearing.
wilson uwujaren
Head, Media and Advertising
03/29/2023