EFCC arraigns Gombe SEMA boss for ‘diverting’ IDPs materials

The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management
Agency (SEMA), Danlami Arabs Rukuje alongside two others were
arraigned before a state High Court, over alleged diversion of
materials meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Rukuje alongside store keeper of the agency, Isa Garba and one
Mu’azu Sulaiman KT, were arraigned before the court over
three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and theft.

According to the court document, the trio had between May and
August 2017 conspired among themselves and diverted building
materials which includes; 5000 bags of Portland cement and 2, 081
drums of 20 litres of paints, which were donated by the
Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiatives (PCNI), for
onward distribution to the IDPs.

The EFCC counsel, Barrister Abdulhamid Mustapha Labaran, said
the offenses committee under the jurisdiction of the court, were
contrary to Sections 96 and 286, punishable under Sections 97 (1)
and 287 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

All the three accused person pleaded not guilty to the
three-count charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

In view of their plea, Barrister Labaran applied for a new date
for trial and the accused to be remanded in prison custody.

However, the counsel of Arabs Rukuje, Barrister Sati Benjamin
and counsel to the two other plaintiffs, applied for the bail of
the three accused persons.

The presiding judge, Justice Abubakar Jauro, adjourned the case
to April 9 for rule on the bail application and continuation of
trial.

He ordered the accused persons to continue on the administrative
bail granted by the EFCC.

The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management
Agency (SEMA), Danlami Arabs Rukuje alongside two others were
arraigned before a state High Court, over alleged diversion of
materials meant for the Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs).

Rukuje alongside store keeper of the agency, Isa Garba and one
Mu’azu Sulaiman KT, were arraigned before the court over
three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and theft.

According to the court document, the trio had between May and
August 2017 conspired among themselves and diverted building
materials which includes; 5000 bags of Portland cement and 2, 081
drums of 20 litres of paints, which were donated by the
Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiatives (PCNI), for
onward distribution to the IDPs.

The EFCC counsel, Barrister Abdulhamid Mustapha Labaran, said
the offenses committee under the jurisdiction of the court, were
contrary to Sections 96 and 286, punishable under Sections 97 (1)
and 287 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

All the three accused person pleaded not guilty to the
three-count charge preferred against them by the EFCC.

In view of their plea, Barrister Labaran applied for a new date
for trial and the accused to be remanded in prison custody.

However, the counsel of Arabs Rukuje, Barrister Sati Benjamin
and counsel to the two other plaintiffs, applied for the bail of
the three accused persons.

The presiding judge, Justice Abubakar Jauro, adjourned the case
to April 9 for rule on the bail application and continuation of
trial.

He ordered the accused persons to continue on the administrative
bail granted by the EFCC.