Supporters
of former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yerima, yesterday attacked
staff of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Commission, ICPC,
in Gusau shortly after he was arraigned before Bello Shinkafi of High Court 4
for allegedly diverting over N1 billion appropriated for the renovation of a
dam to other uses.
But for
the quick intervention of the police, the staff of the anti-graft agency would
have been lynched by the irate supporters who thronged the High Court in their
hundreds.
The ICPC
staff were immediately taken to the Mobile Police Police barracks for protection,
while chairman of the Commission, Ekpo Nta, directed that they be moved to
Abuja immediately.
His
arraignment, which attracted the who is who in the All Progressives Congress,
APC, in the state, led by the deputy governor ,reportedly almost brought
activities in the court complex to a halt.
After
pleading not guilty to the 19-count charge, counsel to Senator Yerima , Mahmud
Abubakar Magaji, SAN, urged the court to grant the accused bail on
self-recognition.
Justice
Shinkafi granted the former governor, who represents Zamfara West senatorial
district in the Senate, bail in the sum of N10 0 million, with two sureties who
must be resident in Gusau, with properties worth N150million.
The case
has been adjourned to March 1 for hearing.
Those who
accompanied the former governor to court included the deputy governor of the
state, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala, the Secretary to the State Government, all the
commissioners and members of the state House of Assembly, the chairman and
members of the executive of the All Progressive Congress in the state as well
as the senator representing Zamfara East and several other supporters.
Some of
the 19-count charges read: ‘’That you Ahmed Rufai Sani on or about
November, 2006 whilst being the Governor of Zamfara State at
Gusau within the jurisdiction of this court did commit an offence of
spending money allocated for one project on another to wit: out of N1,
000,000,000 (one billion naira) additional budgetary allocation
ZamfaraState House of Assembly allocated for the repair of collapsed
Gusau dam and settlement of the victims of the said dam which was
obtained through bank loan you spent the sum of N20,000,000 (twenty million
naira) purportedly on assistance to INEC and thereby committed an offence contrary
to and punishable under section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Act 2000.
‘’That
you Ahmed Rufai Sani on or about October 2006 whilst being the
Governor of Zamfara State at Gusau within the
jurisdiction of this court did commit an offence of spending money allocated
for one project on another to wit: out of N1,000,000,000 (one billion
naira) additional budgetary allocation Zamfara State House of
Assembly allocated for the repair of collapsed Gusau dam and
payment of compensation to the victims of the said dam which was obtained
through bank loan you spent the sum of N10,000,000 (ten million naira)
purportedly on donation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and
punishable under section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act 2000.
‘’That
you Ahmed Rufai Sani on or about October 2006 whilst being the
Governor of Zamfara State at Gusau within the
jurisdiction of this court did commit an offence of spending money allocated
for one project on another to wit: out of N1,000,000,000 (one billion
naira) additional budgetary allocation Zamfara State House of
Assembly allocated for the repair of collapsed Gusau dam and
payment of compensation to the victims of the said dam which was obtained through
bank loan you spent the sum of N43,008,000 (forty three million and eight
thousand naira) purportedly on surveillance of guests and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under section 22 (5) of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
‘’That
you Ahmed Rufai Sani on or about November 2006 whilst being the
Governor of Zamfara State at Gusau within the
jurisdiction of this court did commit an offence of spending money allocated
for one project on another to wit: out of N 1,000,000,000 (one billion naira)
additional budgetary allocation ZamfaraState House of Assembly allocated
for the repair of collapsed Gusau dam and payment of compensation
to the victims of the said dam which was obtained through bank loan you spent
the sum of N21,450,000 (twenty-one million four hundred and fifty
thousand naira) purportedly on settlement of publication equipment and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 22 (5) of the
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
‘’That
you Ahmed Rufai Sani on or about November 2006 whilst being the
Governor of Zamfara State at Gusau within the
jurisdiction of this court did commit an offence of spending money allocated
for one project on another to wit: out of N 1,000,000,000 (one billion naira)
additional budgetary allocation ZamfaraState House of Assembly allocated
for the repair of collapsed Gusau dam and payment of compensation
to the victims of the said dam which was obtained through bank loan you spent
the sum of N64,332,734 (sixty four million three hundred and thirty two
thousand seven hundred and thirty four naira) purportedly on sponsorship of
government officials to hajj and thereby committed an offence contrary to and
punishable under section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Act 2000.’’
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