The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja on Thursday, arraigned Brigadier General Tarelah Paul Boroh (rtd) and Hanafi Musa Moriki before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja on a nine count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust to the tune of N974,768,466 and $1,914,000.
EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said, in a statement on Thursday, that the defendants were alleged to have on different occasions, dishonestly converted the sums of N8,601,571; N106,288,445; N12,078,450; N382,800,000; N456,000,000; N9,000,000 and more, while being public officers.
Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Paul Boroh and Hanafi, Moriki between the 1st of December 2016 and 30th July, 2017 at Abuja within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst being public servants entrusted with property to wit funds of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, dishonestly converted the sum of One Million, Seven Hundred and Fourteen Thousand United States Dollars to your own use and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section 315 of the Penal Code Law”.
The defendants, were said to have pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge, following which Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who represented Boroh prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms, stating that his client willingly brought himself to court despite his failing health.
Lawyer to Moriki, O. A Dada also prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
Prosecuting lawyer, Aisha A.T Habib opposed the bail applications, stating that a counter affidavit had been filed against the applications and prayed the court to grant the case accelerated hearing.
Ruling; Justice Olasumbo Goodluck granted Boroh bail at N2million, and admitted Moriki to bail at N20m.
Justice Goodluck ordered the defendants to provide 2 sureties, who must not be below the rank of Assistant Director in the federal public service, and who must be resident in Abuja.
The judge also asked the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registry.
Justice Goodluck then adjourned the case until November 26, 2019.