Corruption Charges: Zulum Drops Commissioner-Nominee, Ngoshe
Sources cite arraignment by EFCC
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Against the backdrop of emerging facts over his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), a commissioner-nominee, Dr. Ibrahim Yusuf Ngoshe has been delisted from the names submitted by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to the House of Assembly for screening.
Governor Zulum had on Friday transmitted the list of nominees to the lawmakers but less than 24 hours later, the announcement came that Ngoshe has been dropped with the government offering no explanation on the development.
Confirming the development in a statement released on Saturday, the Governor’s media aide, Mallam Isa Gusau, said the name of the affected nominee has been withdrawn by Governor Zulum, who has also communicated his decision to the Assemblymen for necessary action.
According to Malam Gusau, with the latest development, the number of nominations for commissionership has now reduced to 17 from the initial 18 proposed by the State Chief Executive.
However, the Governor’s Spokesperson stated that further details on the action will be provided if the need arise. A native of the Southern Borno senatorial district of Gwoza Local Government Area, Ngoshe was among the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants for the ticket of Gwoza State Constituency, but he lost out in the primary elections
Even as the Media aide kept mute on what may have triggered Governor Zulum’s action, speculations have heightened that the decision could be connected to the current case that Ngoshe has with the anti-graft agency.
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC had in March 2023 arraigned Ngoshe before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, on a one-count charge of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N24,000,000.00 (Twenty-Four Million Naira).
The charge reads: “That you, Ibrahim Yusuf Ngoshe whilst being the Principal of Mairi Islamic Senior Secondary School, Maiduguri, Borno State, between the year 2012 to 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly misappropriate the revenue generated by the School and diverted same in the establishment of your school by name Sheik Abba Aji Memorial Integrated School at Mairi Kuwait being monies meant for payment of staff salaries, additional structures and other physical projects for the school to the tune of N24,000,000.00 (Twenty Four Million Naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Cap.102 Laws of the Borno State of Nigeria and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law.”
Though Ngoshe pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him, Justice Kumaliya ordered that he be remanded in custody with the case adjourned the case to May 2023.
