The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned the immediate past Kebbi State Governor, Saidu Dakingari, for alleged misappropriation of N1, 094,320,000 belonging to the state. Dakingari was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Ismail Bashir of the Kebbi State High Court 2, in Birnin Kebbi.
The ICPC claimed that the N1 billion was partly meant for the 2015 general elections.
The ICPC accused the former governor of conniving with the then Kebbi State Commissioner for Finance, Mohammed Tunga, and a former Secretary to the Kebbi State Government, Garba Kamba, to defraud the state of a sum of N349,475,000.
The ICPC, in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Rasheedat Okoduwa, said the N349m was meant for the provision of generators and other logistics for polling units in Kebbi State during the 2015 general elections.
However, on Wednesday, the court was informed that the former Commissioner of Finance had passed on, and therefore, the prosecuting counsel asked the court to strike out the late commissioner’s name. The request was granted.
The ICPC said Dakingari, who was Kebbi State Governor between 2007 and 2015, allegedly conspired with his political associates to misappropriate the sum of N430, 000,000, which was released to provide logistics support for security agencies during the 2015 general elections.
The two-term governor was also charged with siphoning N315,000,000 meant for enlightenment programmes for Islamic clerics to educate their followers on the 2015 elections in the 21 local government areas of the state.
The prosecutor, Elijah Akaakohol, said the former governor’s actions were contrary to and punishable under sections 19 and 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
According to the ICPC, the defendant, if convicted, is liable to be jailed for five years without an option of fine.
The former governor, however, pleaded not guilty.
After a bail application by his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the court granted Dakingari bail in the sum of N10m with one surety in like sum.
The judge said the surety must possess property worth N10m, which must be located within the jurisdiction of the court.
The case was adjourned till December 4 and 5, 2018 for the commencement of trial.