Reports: Ex-Gov Babangida Aliyu Remanded in Prison

Former governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, a commissioner under his administration, Umar Nasko, who also served as his Chief of Staff, have been remanded in Minna Mini­mum Prison by Justice Mai­yaki Aliyu of the Minna High Court.
They are facing charg­es of corruption and fraud amounting to N3 billon.
Babangida and Nasko were ushered into the court­room at about 8.40am by op­eratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis­sion (EFCC) led by the com­mission’s lead counsel, Mr. Gbolahon Latona and three other lawyers.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them by the trial judge, Justice Mayaki Aliyu.

The court however stood down for 30 minutes at the start of the case to enable counsel to the parties involved in the case com­pare notes on oral applica­tions made by the EFCC to amend its original charges.
Upon resumption of pro­ceedings, the legal teams to the first and second accused per­sons, Mr. Ayodele Oladeji and Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, did not object to the amend­ed charges.
In the first count charge, Aliyu and Umar were accused of committing illegal act and criminal breach of trust in 2015 contrary to Section 97 of the criminal code.
The second count was on the withdrawal of the sum of N540 million from a Zenith Bank account No.1012424374 for personal use, contrary to Section 111 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 104 of the Penal Code. This was for the former governor alone.
Also, the former governor was alone in the third count charge of dishonestly con­verting to personal use, over N1.725 billion belonging to the state government from Zenith Bank, contrary to Sec­tion 311 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 304.
However, the fourth count charge of dishonestly convert­ing to personal use the pro­ceeds from the sale of Ni­ger government shares in the power plant amounting to N1.900 billion involved both accused persons while the fifth and sixth counts bothered on using Ecological Funds of N800 million and another amount of N432 million.
Aliyu was then ordered to be remanded in Minna Pris­on till May 3, 2017 when the ruling for the bail application will be delivered.