Court Arraigns Education Secretary For Fraud In School Feeding Programme

Ishaka Abdullahi

Ishaka Abdullahi, the Education Secretary of Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto, has been arraigned before Justice Malami Umar Dogondaji of the State High Court for fraud in the federal government school feeding programme.

Abdullahi was arraigned on a six-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N429,000 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

His arraignment came after an intelligence which established that the nationwide Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) of the Federal Government for primary school pupils has been hijacked by some fraudulent elements in Sabon Birni Local Government.

The commission’s investigations revealed that one Hassi Abdullahi, who was appointed one of the cooks in the programme and had a Union Bank account number 0077129142 died on March 18, 2019, yet funds were still being channeled to her account from the HGSFP account, totaling N429, 000 which was fraudulently withdrawn.

A charge against the Education Secretary read;

“That you, Ishaka Abdullahi on or about the 16 November, 2018 at Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did obtain the sum of N135,000.00 (One Hundred and Thirty-five Thousand Naira) from Hassi Abdullahi’s account No. 0077129142, domiciled in Union Bank Plc by false pretence, contrary to Section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) same Act.”

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, after which the prosecution counsel S. H. Sa’ad asked for a trial date.

Justice Dogondaji granted the defendant bail on the same conditions that were applied in the earlier charge for which he is facing prosecution in the same court. He adjourned the matter till October 12, 2020 for commencement of trial.