Anti-Graft Agency Arraigns Deputy Accountant General Of Katsina For Alleged N261m Fraud

Anti-Graft Agency Arraigns Deputy Accountant General Of Katsina For Alleged N261m Fraud....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

On Tuesday, July 11, 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges against Sa’adu Maiwada, the Deputy Accountant General of Katsina State, and Sani Lawal BK before Justice M.S Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Katsina. The defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering. CONTINUE READING

Also included in the arraignment is Integrated Gas Services Limited, a company where Maiwada serves as the managing director.

The defendants, who held the positions of Sub-Treasurer and Deputy Sub-Treasurer in the office of the Accountant General of Katsina State, are accused of colluding and diverting the sum of N261,869,824.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty-one Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-four Naira, Ten Kobo Only) from the Katsina State Government’s coffers.

It is alleged that the stolen funds were laundered through Integrated Gas Services Limited, a company in which Maiwada is a director.

One of the charges states, “That you, SAADU MAIWADA, SANI LAWAL BK AND INTEGRATED GAS SERVICES COMPANY LIMITED between 2016 and 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, took possession of an aggregate sum of N261,869,824.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty-One Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira, Ten Kobo Only) paid through the Fidelity Bank account of Integrated Gas Services Company Limited with account no 4010693761 when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity (to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) & (4) of the same Act.”

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court entered a ‘not guilty’ plea on behalf of the third defendant, Integrated Gas Services Limited. Following their pleas, Aisha Tahar Habib, counsel for the prosecution, requested a trial date from the court.

J.P. Israel, counsel representing the defendants, moved a bail application on behalf of his clients and asked the court to grant them bail.

Justice Abubakar granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N50,000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) each, with two sureties who must be residents of Katsina. Additionally, the defendants are required to deposit their international passports with the court registry.

The trial is scheduled to commence on October 19, 2023.