Former university Vice Chancellor arraigned for N19.7 million fraud
A former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma, Professor Armayau Bichi has been arraigned before the Katsina State High Court by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Arraigned before Justice Musa Abubakar, on Thursday, February 5, Bichi is facing trial on a five-count charge of bribery to the tune of N19.7 million.
The former Vice Chancellor was arraigned alongside two others, Lawal Mani and Aliyu Jari, who the commision alleged he used to receive the said bribes.
One of the charges against Bichi read “That you Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi sometimes in July 2023 at Katsina within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, while being a public servant; Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma did obtain a bribe in the sum of N5, 000, 000.00 (Five Million Naira only) from one Theophilus llechukwu of Goezek International Agency Nigeria Limited as a reward for the award of contracts for the supply of medical equipment and furnishing of Laboratory at the Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, the money which you caused to be paid into the Access Bank account number 152610172 belonging to Aliyu Lawal Jari and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 79 (a). (b) & (i) of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.
Bichi is also alleged to have obtained the bribes through the second and third defendants from the petitioners as a kickback for various contracts awarded to them by the Federal University Dutsinma during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the Institution.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges read to them by the court registrar.
In view of their pleas, counsel to the prosecution, Salihu Sani, prayed the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution to assemble witnesses and prove their case.
However, the counsels for the defendants A. L Yusuf and Raphael Henry each moved a bail application praying the court to admit their clients to bail.
After listening to the submissions by both parties, Justice Abubakar granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million and one surety in like sum.
He further adjourned the matter to March 12, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
