Former ABU vice chancellor and bursar are charged with fraud totaling N1 billion by the EFCC

Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Usman, the former vice chancellor and bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, respectively, have been prosecuted for suspected fraud.

At Kaduna State’s Federal High Court, Judge R. M. Aikawa heard the former officials’ charges on Wednesday.

They were accused of nine offences that have to do with the possible laundering of more than N1 billion, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They are accused of using money intended for the popular Kongo Conference Hotel’s renovations in Zaria for other purposes.

The act, which was carried out sometime in December 2013, breached Sections 18(a) and 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011. (as amended).

As the accusations were read to them, Garba and Usman pleaded “not guilty.”

Jamil Musa, the prosecuting attorney, pleaded with the court to place them on remand in the Kaduna Correctional Centre and set a date for the trial to begin.

But M.S. Aatu, SAN, the defence attorney, pleaded with the judge to grant his clients’ bail.

They were given bail in the amount of N5 million with a single surety who had to be a public servant with a grade level of at least 15.

Every first Monday of the month, the defendants are required to appear before the EFCC and turn over their foreign passports for deposit.

In order to hear the matter, Judge Aikawa postponed it to June 20–21, 2023.