N15bn fraud: You have case to answer -Court tells ex-gov Adamu, 11 others

A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has dismissed an application brought before it by a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdulahi Adamu and 11 other accused persons, seeking to quash the case against them, saying they have a case to answer and should be prepared to face trial.

The accused persons are standing trial for allegedly looting Nasarawa State's treasury to the tune of N15billion during the eight years tenure of Adamu as the Governor of the State. Justice David Okorowa gave the ruling yesterday in response to motions for the quashing of the case which was opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Adamu and his co-accused persons were arraigned on a 170 count charge, bordering on misappropriation and embezzlement of over N15billion belonging to the people and government of Nasarawa State between 1999 and 2007. The other accused persons are, Mr. Baba Gbewfi; Alhaji Halilu Bala Usman; Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu: Chairman, Sneccu Group of Companies; Ovey Bala Angbaso; John Mamman; Ifeanyi Ezekweli: M. D. Ciez Pharmacy Limited; Mr. Chukwuma Okoronkwo; Nosa Idehen: M.D. Jonabel Construction Company; Henry Nick Associates Limited, owned by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and others, Niccus Industries Limited, owned by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as well as Prince and Princess Limited.

Counsels to the accused persons, in their consolidated applications, prayed the court to quash the charges preferred against their clients by the EFCC against the backdrop of the fact that the money in question belonged to Nasarawa State but not the Federal Government. They further argued that the Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and that the EFCC had no locus standi on the case since its proof of evidence did not disclose any prima facie case against them.