The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Tuesday re-arraigned a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema alongside three others before Justice Maikaita Bako of the Katsina State High Court on a 24-count amended charge.
Others charge alongside Shema, are Sani Hamisu Makana, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lawal Ahmad Rufai, permanent secretary Ministry for Local Government Affairs and Ibrahim Lawal Dankaba, Chairman Association of Local Government of Nigeria, (ALGON) Katsina Branch.
The accused persons were first arraigned before the same court on the 21st of February 2017 for allegedly conniving to divert over N11 billion from the coffers of Katsina State while Shema was governor.
On the last adjourned date, the prosecution informed the court of its victory at the supreme court which dismissed the application of the former governor and his co-accused to stop their trial.
The prosecution also informed the court of its decision to amend the charge.
At the resumed hearing Tuedsay, the amended charge was read to the accused persons and they all entered a plea of not guilty. In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Sam Ologunorisa, SAN informed the court of his readiness to proceed to trial.
Following no objection from the counsel representing the accused persons, the first prosecution witness, Ibrahim Dabo Bujawa entered the witness box.
Bujawa is a former Auditor General of Kano State who retired in 2004. In his evidence, he told the court that he chaired the Committee of Investigation of State and Local Government finances sets up by the current governor of the state, Aminu Bello Masari.
In laying foundation of his evidence, the witness explained how monies belonging to the Local Governments should legally be distributed. “The local governments normally access their money from the federation account through State Local Government Joint Account. When money comes from the Federation Account it goes to the State Joint Local Account and subsequently distributed to local governments by the Joint Account Committee popularly known as JAAC COMMITTEE”, he said.
According to him, “The functions of the “JAAC COMMITTEE” as provided by Katsina State Government is to meet on monthly basis in order to distribute funds sent from the Federation Account to some statutory bodies such as; Local Government Service Commission, Primary Education Board, Local Government Pension Board and the two Emirate Councils of Katsina and Daura based on percentage allocated to them by the respective laws”.
When asked if the first accused person, Ibrahim Shehu Shema was at anytime a member of the JAAC COMMITTEE, the witness answered no. He also said the governor doesn’t play any role in the distribution of the money.
When asked as to whether his investigation committee had discharged its mandate, the witness replied in affirmative. He also revealed that his investigation revealed that between 2007 and 2015 when Shema was governor, the JAAC COMMITTEE, did not meet even once as provided by law.
The witness was however cut short by the counsel representing the third accused B.Y. Kura, SAN who argued that the witness cannot give oral evidence on a written document. He said since there is investigation report already documented, such report should be tendered before anyone gives evidence about it.
In view of the objection of the learned silk, prosecution counsel asked the court for adjournment to enable him provide the report to the court.
The case was adjourned to May 30, 2018 for continuation of trial.