THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused former Plateau State Governor, Chief Michael Botmang of stealing N1.5billion of the state money within five months, while in office.

Botmang who was the Deputy Governor to the former Governor Joshua Dariye became the acting governor following the impeachment of Dariye in December 2006.

The commission subsequently arraigned him on Friday before a Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice Anuri Chikere, putting him on house restriction because of his failing health.

He was driven into the court premises in a Peugeot Expert with Nasarawa State registration number AA 698 NBB at about 9: 42 am.

The 31-count charge against him for misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.5 billion belonging to the Plateau State government when the accused was the acting governor of the state, was read to him, but he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Counsel to the accused, M.Y. Saleh (SAN), after the charges were read, tendered oral application for bail because of what he described as “exceptional circumstances” resulting from the failing health of the accused.

He told the court that the accused was diagnosed of five ailment-diabetes, hypertension, gont, chronic kidney problem and has been placed on dialysis twice a week.

EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, however, did not object to the bail application, saying they were aware of his health condition.

But the judge, Justice Anuri, however, insisted that the right procedure be followed, saying, “I don’t grant bail on oral application.”

Because of the health condition of the accused, the court in its wisdom, confined him to his house at Zawan Village , Jos South Local Government Council, Plateau State.


http://www.tribune.com.ng/19072008/news/news2.html

Tonim:


THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused former Plateau State Governor, Chief Michael Botmang of stealing N1.5billion of the state money within five months, while in office.

Chei, this guy is real barawo. 1.5 billion naira within 5 months of being sworn in as an acting governor. Na waa

good

now let them make him return all the money or rot in jail!!

Still going after small fish i see, LOL. Abeg, when the man has been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to serve a long jail term as well as money returned then we can hear word. Why does "arraignment" even make news sef? Ibori was at a point arraigned, so was Kalu, so was Nnamani, so was Iyabo, the list goes on and Iyabo is still a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, isn't she? So what are we talking about here?

Texcee:

Chei, this guy is real barawo. 1.5 billion naira within 5 months of being sworn in as an acting governor. Na waa

While he was the deputy governor he is being learning from his boss dariye, and as soon as he is made the acting governor he perfected his act stealing just N1.5 billion naira @ the rate of N300 million per month or N10 million a day.

I can forsee his defence in mitigation, ' my boss Dariye takes at least N1 billion a month, so I only take a third each month'

The truth is that our political system allow for too many thieves calling themselves lawmakers(as in Dishonourable members or Senators, Governor or President. They sound to me like lawbreakers more than anything else

All we hear of these days are arrests, arraignments, detentions, probes, investigations, yadiyadiyadayada.

Where are the results of all these rantings and gragra?

dariye, fayose, ibori, nnamani, kalu, alams, yerima, audu, odili,, what has EFCC achieved with them?

PH airport was closed for more than a year for renovation work.
Yet, a chachangi aircraft nearly crashed there last week because the airport has not landing lights. n international airport!

What has happened to the ministers of aviation in charge when that airport was closed?
Have we forgotten the souls of those innocent Loyola kids wasted in that sosoliso crash? Their blood scream from the tarmac of that airport against all those who have the power to prevent a reoccurence but yet fail to do so.

Is this government waiting for another air disaster before another probe and another futile airport closure wil be announced?

The Niger bridge will soon collapse. And the Nigerian government looks ahead.

The Benin-Ore road is yet to receive any attention, 9 years and counting. Yet a wise senator of this country had the guts and wisdom to ferry jobless Nigerian women to the UN to lend voice to the Nudity Bill.

Nudity Bill!
While lives are lost in this country to malaria and hunger, someone is busy losing sleep because her daughter chooses to go to school half naked.

Nduka and Thisday has chosen the invitation of weed smoking rapstars, and belly-button baring dancers to Nigeria as an annual ritual aimed at 'laundering the image of Nigeria'. How many times has Thisday invited college professors to Nigeria to give 2 days seminars in our schools? Aren't we entertained enough by the events around us? Or is this one of those strategies aimed at creating more headline news for the print media to make money?

NUT is on strike. The leaders of our tommorrow are on the streets selling pure water, while our leaders are inviting US marines to teach our soldiers  how to fight.

This country is all about misaligned priorities.

Like Asa sang, there is fire on the mountain, and no one seems to be on the run.

Rhea please tell them o, all this beating about the bush has always been our way of doing things. Basic infrastructure is slowly and steadily becoming extinct and yet our government is still trying to arrange one conference or the other.

Still going after small fish i see, LOL. Abeg, when the man has been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to serve a long jail term as well as money returned then we can hear word. Why does "arraignment" even make news sef? Ibori was at a point arraigned, so was Kalu, so was Nnamani, so was Iyabo, the list goes on and Iyabo is still a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria, isn't she? So what are we talking about here?

You're right on the money. Ibb and Obj are yet to be convicted. Sam Egwu still can't be touched while they waste time on petty theft small timers who looted.