Witness: How UniJos union leaders defrauded members N178m

Bitrus Bako, the fourth prosecution witness in the trial of former Chairman and Secretary of the University of Jos (UniJos) Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions, Kassam Kopte and Yakubu Zwalnan, respectively, has disclosed how the defendants lured union members into fraudulent land deals and defrauded them of their life savings.

The witness made the disclosure before Justice S.P. Gang of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, the state capital, on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

The UniJos union leaders are facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on three-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to defraud to the tune of N178,583,560.36 in contravention of Section 97 of the Penal Code Laws of Plateau State and punishable under the same law.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Steve Odiase the witness said he knew the defendants and had dealings with them during their tenure as union executives.

Lecturers: How ex-UniJos NASU leaders defrauded us N178m

Kopte, he said, was UniJos NASU President from 2012 to 2019, while Zwalnan was the Secretary.

“I paid for one plot of land with the sum of N170,000 and an additional N4,500 for processing the land papers, but I never received the documents or took possession of the land,” he said.

The witness further disclosed that the defendants advertised the sale of the plots of land in two locations – Jos South and Jos East -to the university community.

Bako recognised the photocopy of the document with which the ownership of the land was processed for him which was admitted in court as an exhibit after opposition from counsel to the first defendant, D.G Dashe, and that of the second defendant.

Justice Gang, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 15, 2024, for the continuation of trial.

The Star