Alleged N23.3bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-finance minister, 4 others

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), on Monday re-arraigned former Minister of Finance, Bashir Yaguda, and four others before the High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, for alleged misappropriation of N23.3 billion.

Others arraigned by the EFCC include former National Security Adviser, Retd. Col. Sambo Dasuki, ex-governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and his son, Sagir, and their company Dalhatu Investment Limited .

The defendants were arraigned on 25 counts bordering on misappropriation and receiving fraudulent proceeds.

They were first arraigned in 2015 before Justice Peter Affen, who is now the Justice of Court of Appeal.

The defendants were later re-arraigned before Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, now the FCT Chief Judge then, before Justice Yusuf Halilu.

The EFCC accused them of diverting money from the office of the National Security Adviser between 2013 and 2015 to finance electioneering campaign.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

The defendants are to enjoy the bail condition given to them earlier.

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Ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Halilu, adjourned until June 30 for trial and June 7 to hear the application filed by Dauski ‘s counsel.

Earlier, the counsel for Bafarawa, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, urged the court to allow the defendants to enjoy the bail condition given to them earlier.

He said on December 21, 2015, Justice Affen granted them bail, adding that Justice Baba Yusuf on October 7, 2016, asked them to continue on the same condition.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said he would not object so long as the defendants were available in court for their trial.

Raji Ahmed, SAN, counsel for Dasuki, however, reminded the court of his client’s application to be allowed to travel abroad for medical attention.

The Star