Court Orders Remand of Former VC Over Alleged N260 million Fraud

Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered remand of former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Gusau, Professor Magaji Garba over alleged N260 million fraud.

Garba was alleged to have extorted various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the university.

The offence is contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Count two of the charge read: “That you, Professor Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 15th of May, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing off the University valued at the total sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira) which representation/pretence you knew to be false.”

Count three read: “That you, Professor Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 1st August 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contract executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the Federal University, Gusau under the false presence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira), which representation/pretence you knew to be false.”

After the reading of the charges, the defendant pleaded not guilty, prompting the counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, to ask for a trial date.

He also requested that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, but the defence counsel, R. Usman, applied for the bail of his client.

The application was however opposed by the prosecuting counsel on the ground that he was only served at about 10:33 am on the day of his arraignment.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Aliyu remanded the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and adjourned the case till Thursday for a hearing of the bail application.