Two unionists, the secretary and treasurer of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Usman B Abdurahman and Hafizu Dauda, respectively were dragged before Bauchi High Court on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining of goods under false pretense and presentation of false documents by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Abdurahman and Dauda were arrested following a petition by a top judicial officer in the state, alleging that sometime in 2009, the Bauchi Judiciary branch of AUPCTRE entered into a contract agreement with De-Damak Nigeria Limited to supply 3,000 unit of motorcycles at the cost of N217 million for distribution to its members, based on management guarantee and irrevocable standing payment order by the High Court of Bauchi State.
But the unionists allegedly diverted many units of the motorcycles and sold them to M. D. Tofa Investment Limited in Kano.
It was also discovered that even the few names submitted by the unionists as beneficiaries of the loan for remittance were fictitious; others were either retired or dead, while majority could not be found in the central data base of the Bauchi State Civil Service.
Count two of the charge reads, “That you Usman B Abdurahman and Hafizu Dauda, sometime between October and November, 2009 in Bauchi, Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this High Court, while being the Secretary and Treasurer respectively, of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Judiciary Branch, Bauchi State, and in such capacities, did, with intent to defraud, obtained as loan, 3000 units of motorcycle models AX 100 and CG 125 respectively, valued at N217 million from De-Damak Nigeria Limited, under the false pretense that the motorcycles were to be distributed to members of the AUPCTRE, which you only utilised part and diverted 1,170 units valued at N87.05,illion to your personal benefit, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges read against them.
In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel Abubakar Aliyu urged the court to fix a date for trial, in line with the practice direction of the Bauchi State High Court and also to remand the accused persons in prison custody.
But the defense counsel, Y. A Garkuwa, informed the court that he filed a bail application dated March 1 and served same to prosecution.
Justice M. A. Sambo, the presiding judge, adjoined the case to Friday March 3, for consideration of bail application, and March 20
, for trial.
