The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has arraigned the Executive Secretary of Adamawa Pilgrim Welfare Board, and three others for N132million naira fraud.
According to EFCC, the Gombe zonal office, on January 7, 2019 arraigned Lucious Mayo, Elisie Yaduwa, Elisha Yahaya and Rhoda Samson before Justice Nathan Musa of an Adamawa State High Court, on a nine-count charge bordering on “conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, diversion, inflation of contract price, forgery and refusal to make full disclosure of assets” to the EFCC.
Mayo is alleged to have, as Executive Secretary of the state’s Adamawa Pilgrim Welfare Board, connived with Yaduwa, the Director of Finance and Account; Yahaya, Accountant, and Samson, cashier, to divert to personal use, about N132 million out of N347, 848,220 (Three Hundred and Forty Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty Naira) only released in 2016 by the Adamawa State government to cater for the pilgrimage exercise of Christians from the state (Adamawa pilgrim).
They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.
Prosecuting counsel, A.Y. Muntaka, thereafter asked for a date for commencement of trial.
Defence counsel for the defendants, however, moved their bail applications.
Justice Musa granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N100 million and one surety in like sum, with landed property within the jurisdiction of the Court or a Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service. The second, third and fourth defendants were granted bail in the sum of N50 million and one surety each in like sum. The surety who must be a director in the Civil Service, must have landed property.
The case has been adjourned to February 6 and 7, 2019 for “definite hearing”.