BY VICTOR BUORO – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Gusau, Professor Magaji Garba, before Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
He allegedly extorted various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a Three billion Naira 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.
Bringing him before the Court on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, EFCC’s charge sheet for count two reads: “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 and 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 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”.
Also, count three reads: “That you, Professor Magji 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, and 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 contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretence 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”.
According to a statement by Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, the defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to him.
Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir asked for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
However, the defence counsel, R. Usman applied for the bail of his client which was opposed by the prosecuting counsel on the ground that the service was only done today, Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at around 10:33 am.
After listening to the arguments by both counsels, Justice Aliyu adjourned the matter until Thursday, October 14, 2021, for hearing on the bail application and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).
