“I took monies to Shema in cash” – Witness tells court

A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina was on Monday told how
various sums on monies from non-executed, partially executed and
inflated contracts were taken to the former governor of Katsina
state, Ibrahim Shema, in cash.

Shema is facing a 26-count charges in a case filed by the
Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) before the court
over alleged misappropriation of about N5.7billion Subsidy
Reinvestment program (SURE-P) funds belonging to the state.

At the resume hearing today, EFCC’s principal witness and former
Special Adviser and Personal Assistant to Shema on SURE-P, Nasir
Ingawa, told the court that on several occasions payment vouchers
were raised on the directives of Shema for contracts and programme
and were not executed nor implemented.

He said “some of the programmes were inflated on his directives
of between 20-30 percent and the proceeds therein I take to him in
cash.”

“Shema sometimes authorise and directs me to inflate it, I
personally take the monies to him in cash. Some of the projects
were never executed,” he said.

Ingawa, who was being guided through the proceedings by the
EFCC’s counsel, S.T. Ologunorisa SAN, said vouchers are raised for
projects that are even completed but inflated at times.

“Shema asks me to give the money to Idris Kwado through one of
his boys Naeem,” he added.

Shema’s counsel, Elisha Kurah SAN could not however cross
examine the witness on ground that he is yet to get the documents
tendered before which could have been the basis of his cross
examination.

He therefore seek for adjournment which was not objected by the
prosecuting counsel.

The presiding Judge, Justice Hadiza Shagari, then adjourned the
matter to Febuary 25, for continuation.

It will be recalled that Shema has since pleaded not guilty to
all the 26-count charge that bothers on unlawful act to wit fraud
contrary to section 15 sub section (2d) of the Money Laundering
Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15
(3) of the same act.