EFCC Arraigned Shinkafi, Yuguda, Others Over Alleged N450m Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday arraigned former governor of Zamfara State, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi alongside three others before Justice Fatima Murtala of the Federal High Court sitting in Zamfara on a 5-count charge of Conspiracy and Money Laundering.

Others charged alongside Shinkafi are the former Minister of State, Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda,  Aminu Ahmed Nahuche and Ibrahim Malaha.

The defendants allegedly conspired and received a cash payment of N450,000,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira ) part of the $115,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifteen Million Dollars) that was allegedly distributed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources,  Deizani Allison-Madueke for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the 2015 general election.

One of the charges read: “that You Ambassador Bashir Yuguda,  Aminu Ahmed Nahuche and Ibrahim Malaha on or about 27th, March 2018, at Gusau, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired among yourselves to receive cash payment of the sum of N450, 000,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) from Odia Akpotune without transacting through a financial institution and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act and punishable under 16(2)(b) of the same Act”.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.

Counsel to the prosecution, Johnson Ojogbane requested the court for a trial date in view of the plea of the defendants.

The defence counsel, J. C Shaka moved a motion for bail asking the court to admit the defendants  to bail pending the conclusion of the matter.

Subsequently, Ojogbane informed the court that the prosecution had filed counter affidavit praying the court to refuse bail.

Justice Murtala, after listening to the arguments between the parties, granted the defendants bail in the N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira Only) each and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court while the other must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. Both sureties shall be public or civil service not below grade level 16. The court also rules that, the defendants deposit their recent passport photographs and international passports with the  registrar.

The case has been adjourned to 27 and 28 June, 2018 for the commencement of trial while the defendants are remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of their bail terms.