Niger State Assembly’s Director of Finance, 8 others charged to court over alleged missing N11.67m
The Niger State House of Assembly Director of Finance, Ibrahim Musa and eight members of staff of the accounts department may be in trouble over alleged missing N11,670,000 entrusted in their care.
They have consequently been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court 1 Minna.
The missing money it was gathered was stolen from the office of the director at the Assembly complex.
While the police charged the Finance Director on a separate First Information Report (FIR) accusing him of negligence of duty and failure to properly supervise his personnel, the other eight account officers are facing charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and criminal misappropriation, cheating and theft, contrary to section 97, 312, 309 322 and 288 of the penal code.
The accused persons however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them by the presiding Chief Magistrate 1, Nasir Muazu.
However, while the prosecutor, ASP Ahmed Saidu did not object to the bail of the Director of Finance, he urged the court to remand the eight other suspects in correctional facility in Minna, noting that their bail will jeopardise ongoing investigation into the case.
In an oral application, the defense lawyer, Mr Baba Isah pleaded with the Magistrate to grant bail to the accused persons assuring that they will not jump bail if granted adding that they will produce reasonable sureties if granted bail.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate 1 granted bail to the Director of Finance, Ibrahim Musa at the sum of N1000,000.00 bail and a surety in like sum who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
He however ordered that the eight other accused persons be kept in Minna Correctional Facility and adjourned the case to 12th October, 2020.
According to the FIR, a complaint was lodged at the Tudun Wada police station about the missing money by the Assembly Sergeant at Arm, Ibrahim Abubakar on 3/10/20 adding that the money was entrusted in care of the account officials by some honourable members of the Assembly.
The money according to police investigation was kept in a file shelve instead of security safe in the office of the director of finance with the intent to steal the money later.
Those arrested and charged include the Director of Finance, Ibrahim Musa, Saidu Aliyu, Nma Ndanusa, Bello Mohammed, jibrin Hamma, Yahaya Sadiq, Bashir Shuaibu, Mohammed Shaba and Abu Mashood all of the accounts department of the Assembly.
