EFCC Docks Yuguda, Bafarawa, Dasuki, Others for Alleged N28bn Fraud

A former Minister of State For Finance, Bashir Yuguda and five others were today arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before Justice Peter Afen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, bribery, abuse of office and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N28, 315, 000.000.

 Yuguda, who is the first defendant, is charged alongside with Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser; Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser; Attahiru Dalhatu Bafawara, a former governor of Sokoto State; Sagir Attahiru, Bafarawa’s son and Dalhatu Investment Limited. Count one  of the charge reads:

“That you, Col. Muhammed Sambo Dasuki( rtd.), whilst being the National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu,  whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the office of the National Security Adviser,  between  14^th April, 2014 and 7^th  May, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N3, 350, 000,000 (Three Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) being part of the funds in the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties when you transferred same to the account of Dalhatu Investment Limited with United Bank for Africa Plc, purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.”

Another count reads: ‘‘That you, Dalhatu Investement Limited, Sagir Attahiru and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, between 14^th  April, 2014 and 7^th May, 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly received stolen property, to wit: an aggregate sum of N3, 350,000.00( Three Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) into your account with United Bank For Africa Plc., from the account of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria, which belonged to the Federal Government of Nigeria and knowing the said sum to be stolen property but purporting same to be payment for the supply of security equipment and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. 4, LFN 2004.’’The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

Justice Afem adjourned the case to Wednesday, December 16, 2015 for hearing of bail applications.