Gombe Varsity director arraigned for N19m scam

The duo of Murtala Salisu, acting director works of the Gombe State University and Sanusi Sani Abdullahi, director engineering Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside a company, SST Nigeria Limited before Justice B.L Iliya of the Gombe State High Court on an 8_count charge bordering on diversion of public funds and abuse of office.

Their arraignment followed investigation of a petition alleging that Murtala, the first accused, fraudulently manipulates and issued contract award letters for consulting job, a duty that ought to be performed by the registrar.

It was also alleged that Tetfund contracts, including special intervention and NEED’s Assessment, were awarded to cronies and friends.

Investigation revealed that, Murtala received various sum of money as gratification from Sanusi for the contract executed by his company, SST Nig. Ltd at the Gombe State University.

These transactions were carried out through financial institutions.

They pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them, in view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel A. M Labaran applied for a date for trial.

While adjourning the case to June 22, 2017 Justice Iliya granted bail to all the accused persons in N5million each and two sureties in like sum.

The sureties according to the judge must have landed property with Certificate of Occupancy within the jurisdiction of the court.

 

SEYI ANJORIN