From Auwal Garba, Gombe
The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Danlami Arabs Rukuje was arraigned with two others before a state High Court, over alleged diversion of materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Rukuje, Isa Garba, store keeper of the agency and one Mu’azu Sulaiman KT, were arraigned before the court over a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and theft.
According to the court document, the trio had between May and August 2017 conspired among themselves and diverted building materials which includes; 5000 bags of Portland cement and 2,081 drums of 20 litres of paints, which were donated by the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI), for onward distribution to the IDPs.
The EFCC counsel, Barrister Abdulhamid Mustapha Labaran, said the offenses committee under the jurisdiction of the court, were contrary to Sections 96 and 286, punishable under Sections 97 (1) and 287 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC.
In view of their plea, Barrister Labaran applied for a new date for trial and the accused to be remanded in prison custody.
However, the counsel of Arabs Rukuje, Barrister Sati Benjamin and counsel to the two other plaintiffs, applied for the bail of the accused persons.
The presiding judge, Justice Abubakar Jauro, adjourned the case to April 9 for ruling on the bail application and continuation of trial.
He ordered the accused persons to continue on the administrative bail granted by the EFCC.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
