Amid the growing corruption scandals rocking the nation's polity, a one time governor is set to face trial for an alleged mismanagement of a whooping N1billion.
Former Zamfara Governor, Ahmed Sani
Ex Zamfara State Governor Ahmed Rufai Sani is set to face trial for alleged misappropraiton of N1billion loan meant for the repair of Gusau Dam in 2006.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed 19 charges against the ex-governor in the High Court of Zamfara State.
Sani, who left office 9 years ago will be tried along with three others — Alhaji Hashim A. Dikko, Development Management Limited and HAD Nigeria Limited.
About N425, 491,736.75 of the N1billion was allegedly diverted to other purposes, including assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), furniture allowance, consultancy fee, Ramadan feeding, Hajj and purchase of cars.
Investigation revealed that only N574, 508,263.25 was purportedly utilized for flood disaster related matters.
Sani, a leading advocate of Sharia law whose administration amputated a cow thief, Buba Jangebe, Sani will be tried under the common law.
If convicted, he is liable to a five years imprisonment without an option of fine
A source in ICPC said: “We are set for the trial of ex-Governor Ahmed Rufai Sani, who is now a Senator. We have served him a letter to inform him of his formal arraignment on Thursday.
“This case has taken this long because we were painstaking in conducting our investigation. We hope he will make himself available for trial in line with the ICPC Act.
“We are charging him with offences contrary to and punishable under sections 19, 22 (1 and 5) and 26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.”
Section 19 says: “Any public officer, who uses his office or position to gratify or confer any corrupt or unfair advantage upon himself or any relation or associate of the public officer or any other public officer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for five years without option of fine.”
The charges against Sani, popularly called Yerima Bakura are that he:
On or about November, 2006 whilst being the Governor of Zamfara State at Gusau spent money allocated for one project on another to wit: out of N1 billion additional budgetary allocation by Zamfara State House of Assembly for the repair of collapsed Gusau Dam and settlement of the victims of the said dam, which was obtained through a bank loan, spent the sum of N20m purportedly on assistance to INEC and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
on or about October 2006 spent N10million purportedly on donation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
*spent N43,008,000 purportedly on surveillance of guests and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
*spent N21,450,000 purportedly on settlement of publication equipment and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
*spent N64,332,734 purportedly on sponsorship of government officials to Hajj and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
*spent the sum of N32,646,286 purportedly on settlement of accommodation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
*spent N15,800,000 purportedly on furniture allowance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
*spent N29,200,000 purportedly on purchase of 2000 Nanfang motorcycles and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000; and
*that Sani on or about October 2006 spent N23,859,692 purportedly on payment to automobile company and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
Sani is also accused of spending N14 million purportedly on payment of auditing of account and N14,170,000 purportedly on Ramadan feeding.
He is also to explain the spending of N14,530,000 (purportedly on purchase of four 406 Peugeot and N36,000,000 purportedly on settlement of leave grant for teachers.
Sani is charged with spending N46, 591,692.24 purportedly on school feeding among others.