The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Friday, November 7, 2014 arraigned the
Kebbi State Accountant-General, Mohammed
Arzika Dakingari and the Managing Director, Beal
Construction Nigeria Limited, Musa Yusuf, before
Justice Sabiu Bala of Kebbi State High Court,
Birnin-Kebbi on a 20-count charge bordering on
conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and abuse
of office.
Continue:
Dakingari, among other things allegedly used his
office as the Accountant-General, Kebbi State to
fraudulently enrich himself.
Particulars of count four of the charge reads:
“That you Alhaji Mohammed Arzika Dakingari
being the Accountant-General of Kebbi State , on
or about 2nd May, 2013 in Kebbi State within the
jurisdiction of the High Court of Kebbi State , did
use your office to confer upon yourself, a corrupt
advantage for the award of a contract by Kebbi
State Government to Beal Construction Nigeria
Limited, (a company on whose board your children
are directors and of which you are a signatory to
its bank accounts) for the provision of additional
structures to the newly established secondary
school at Moh’d Mera College, Argungu worth
N241,866,556.50 (two hundred and forty one
million, eight hundred and sixty-six thousand, five
hundred and fifty six naira, fifty kobo) and
thereby committed an offence contrary to and
punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2010.”
Count two reads:
“That you Alhaji Mohammed Arzika Dakingari
being the Accountant-General of Kebbi State and
Musa Yusuf being the Managing Director, Beal
Construction Nigeria Limited sometime in October,
2012 in Birnin-Kebbi within the jurisdiction of the
High Court of Kebbi State, with intent to defraud,
did aid Ibrahim Abdullahi Usman, Chairman/
Managing Director, Cigale Finance S.A Lome-Togo
(now at large) to obtain 25 Units of Iveco Trucks,
property of Karimat Global Trade Links Limited
valued at N175,000,000.00 (one hundred and
seventy five million naira) only by false pretence
and thereby committed an offence contrary to
section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other
Related Offences, Act, 2006 and punishable under
section 1 (3) 0f the same Act.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the
charge when it was read to them.
In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Mahmud
Bello, urged the court to fix a date for trial to
commence while the accused persons be
remanded in custody.
However, the defence counsel, Suleiman Usman,
prayed the court to admit his clients to bail
pending the commencement of trial. He added
that, the accused persons are men of integrity
and would not jump bail.
Justice Bala after listening to both counsel,
adjourned to November 11, for hearing on the bail
application and ordered the accused persons to
be remanded in EFCC custody.
The accused persons were to be arraigned on
August 28, 2014 but their plea could not be taken
following an application by the defence to the
court to quash the charge on the ground that no
prima facie case had been established against
them.
He contended that, since there is no link between
the accused persons and the alleged offence, the
court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
The prosecution, in response, posited that, there
was a prima facie case against the accused
persons going by the proof of evidence attached
to the charge.
“Before the court grant leave to prefer the charge
against the accused persons, it had already
satisfied itself with the proof of evidence
attached to the charge”, he added.
At the resumed hearing of the case Friday, the
court held that it had jurisdiction to entertain and
decide the matter and consequently ordered the
accused persons to enter their plea.
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