The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Deputy Accountant-General of Katsina State, Sani Lawal BK, before the state High Court.
The anti-graft commission accused the Katsina government official of conspiring to convert N289 million from the state’s coffers through proxies account.
Spokesperson of the Commission Wilson Uwujaren, who disclosed this on Thursday, June 8, stated that the EFCC arraigned Lawal with Saadi Maiwada, the former Sub-Treasurer in the Office of the Accountant-General of Katsina state.
According to the statement, an investigation revealed that the defendants laundered the stolen funds through the account of Integrated Gas Services Limited, a company where the first defendant (Maiwada) is a director.
The sum of N49 million was also allegedly transferred from the account of Integrated Gas Services Limited to the personal account of the second defendant, Lawal BK.
One of the counts read, “That you, Saadu Miawada and Sani Lawal BK, sometime in 2017 at Katsina within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being entrusted with dominion over money belonging to Katsina State Government dishonestly converted to your use the sum of N120,790,942.86 (One Hundred and Twenty Million, Seven Hundred Ninety Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-two Naira, Eighty-six Kobo).
“You committed an offence punishable under Section 297 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State 2021.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Given their pleas, the counsel for the prosecution, Aisha Tahar Habib, prayed to the court for a trial date.
The counsel for the defendants, J B Israel, subsequently made an oral application for bail on behalf of his clients which the prosecution objected.
