okoto State High Court has discharged and acquitted former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of the alleged N13 billion fraud charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Salihu Maibuhu Gummi and Nasiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, younger brother to the PDP presidential aspirant, were also discharged and acquitted.

Justice Bello Abbas noted that the evidence advanced by the prosecuting counsel lacked substance, was contradictory and imaginary and therefore did not substantially prove the case of fraud against the plaintiff.

Bafarawa, who was governor of Sokoto State from 1999 to 2007, is accused of fraudulent transactions, and the case has lasted over eight years.

The former governor, with 17 others, faced a 144-count charge in 2009. The charges were however reduced to 34 with some of the accused dropped for lack of evidence against them, others granted state pardon and some deceased.

Justice Abbas said the count charges had dropped to 22 with only three persons standing trial.

According to him, the accused persons were discharged and acquitted on grounds that the case could not be established beyond reasonable doubt.

Bafarawa said justice would always prevail when your hands are clean, quoting President Muhammadu Buhari that “Bafarawa was not a thief when they arrested him in Abuja over the issue”.

He wondered why he was accused of misappropriating N13 billion when he left N12 billion in the state coffers, another N500 million in the account of the Sultan Muhammadu Maccido Institute for Quranic and General Studies, and an additional N1 billion iron rods investment for the state.

“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC to investigate these facts so that Nigerians will be convinced that the fight against corruption is not biased,” he added.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) described the ruling as “shocking and unacceptable”.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the agency believes the judge erred in law.

The statement reads: “In the course of the trial, EFCC called nine witnesses and presented several documents that were admitted in evidence, while the defendants called only six witnesses. Surprisingly, Justice Abbas discharged and acquitted the accused of all counts on the premise that the evidence presented by the prosecution were “mere hearsay”, and there were “no documentary evidence” to back up the claim of witnesses.

“The Commission believes that the judge erred in law, and has mandated its counsel to appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal. The judgment of Justice Abbas is the climax in the series of twists and turns that the trial had witnessed over the last nine years or so.

“The defendants, with 12 others, were first arraigned on 47 counts on December 16, 2009, before the Sokoto State High Court; they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“Soon after their arraignment, the defendants filed a motion asking the court to quash the charges against them. The said motion was dismissed by both the trial court and the court of appeal.

“On September 29, 2011, the prosecution filed an amended 44-count charge against the accused persons. But while the case was on, one of the accused, Abdullahi Bida, died while Aisha Mohammed Binji was discharged following a nolle prosequi application filed by then Attorney-General of Sokoto State.”

The EFCC also faulted the state pardon granted five of the defendants.

The statement added: “Even more shocking is the wholesale pardon of five of the defendants by Governor Aminu Tambuwal. Those pardoned by Tambuwal are Alhaji “Tukur Alkali, who is the Commissioner for Animal Health and Fisheries Development; Commissioner for Home Affairs Isa Achida; Chairman, Governing Board, National Commission for Colleges of Education Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi; the member representing Isa constituency at the House of Assembly, Habibu Modachi; and a Permanent Secretary Isah Bello. The hitherto five suspects

Court Clears Bafarawa, Three Others Of N13b Fraud | Sahara Reporters
http://saharareporters.com/2018/08/01/court-clears-bafarawa-three-others-n13b-fraud

Chess game. Bring out Bafarawa to tackle Tambuwal in Sokoto.

Queen to H5, check!

The political class is playing chess and the game is getting more and more intriging

Who come thief the money Baba and his cronies have been shouting upanda? As everyone is coming out clean from court. Abi na propaganda as people been de insinuate?
Seun, please how many likes to sack mynd44. He's not supposed to be a mod. He keeps deleting comments that's contrary to his. He's deleted mine just now. He's too political to be a mod.

After the Legislators, Judiciary is the next group of Nigerians Enemy.

You have the right to insult me.

Another Fulani Acquitted...Dareiye convicted...

I dey fear this country walahi

Judiciary is now nonsense

Na me come thief the money!!!!! I dey my house, come and beat me.

Politics

Mynd44:
Chess game. Bring out Bafarawa to tackle Tambuwal in Sokoto.

Queen to H5, check!

Hmmm. Bring out Bafarawa as what?

APC want Bafarawa in Sokoto

Mynd44:
Chess game. Bring out Bafarawa to tackle Tambuwal in Sokoto.

Queen to H5, check!

The political class is playing chess and the game is getting more and more intriging

Please, modify.

Next thing is he decamps to APC

Nbote:
Next thing is he decamps to APC

Shamelessly obvious

massinola:
Who come thief the money Baba and his cronies have been shouting upanda? As everyone is coming out clean from court. Abi na propaganda as people been de insinuate?
..........."

Seem you're not a good observer of the selective justice Buhari-led APC government is practising in Nigeria.

Mynd44:
Chess game. Bring out Bafarawa to tackle Tambuwal in Sokoto.

Queen to H5, check!

The political class is playing chess and the game is getting more and more intriging

so it is no longer a fight againt corruption but rather a chess game? Tufiakwa!!!

BTW Baffarawa is a presidentiala aspirant under te PDP but you just exposed yourself for whom you really are.

PaChukwudi44:
So it is no longer a fight againt corruption but rather a chess game? Tufiakwa!!!
BTW Baffarawa is a presidentiala aspirant under te PDP but you just exposed yourself for whom you really are.

Imagine such a show of shame!

PaChukwudi44:


so it is no longer a fight againt corruption but rather a chess game? Tufiakwa!!!

BTW Baffarawa is a presidentiala aspirant under te PDP but you just exposed yourself for whom you really are.

What makes you think i was not refering to other PDP aspirants using him to get to Tambuwal?

Mynd44:
Chess game. Bring out Bafarawa to tackle Tambuwal in Sokoto.

Queen to H5, check!

The political class is playing chess and the game is getting more and more intriging

...intriguing.

Now APC pawn

They want him to tackle tambuwal d man is a buhari man

Printerscanner:


Yes Dariye is an Igbo from Bayelsa.

He is Aten from Platue State and never Fulani... In you are insinuating.

Bafarewa vs tambuwal, i wonder who we tackle saraki and dogara, intresting, this is nigeria and look at how we are living now our president na criminal

Who else is expecting him to join APC soon..

The statement reads: “In the course of the trial, EFCC called nine witnesses and presented several documents that were admitted in evidence, while the defendants called only six witnesses. Surprisingly, Justice Abbas discharged and acquitted the accused of all counts on the premise that the evidence presented by the prosecution were “mere hearsay”, and there were “no documentary evidence” to back up the claim of witnesses.

“The Commission believes that the judge erred in law, and has mandated its counsel to appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal. The judgment of Justice Abbas is the climax in the series of twists and turns that the trial had witnessed over the last nine years or so.


if this is actually true that means that the Nigerian Bar Association is dead... SMH...

alright..





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