By Tobi Soniyi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Sunday said it had
arraigned three clerics before Justice M. S. Shuaibu of the Federal
High Court in Yola, Adamawa State on a six-count charge of money
laundering and obtaining N10million by false pretences.
Alhaji Inuwa Usman and Alhaji Chindo M.D. Bose, both leaders of the
Taraba State chapter of the Muslim Council allegedly conspired with
Reverend John Simon Jatutu, who was the Special Adviser to the State
Government on Religious Matters to divert part of the funds approved to
the council by the state government towards the celebration of the
country’s Golden Jubilee.
The Taraba State government had in September 2010 approved N42million
for the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Muslim Council for
purposes of the 50th Independence celebration.
Both faiths shared the money equally with each getting N21million but
the three accused persons cornered N10m from the Muslim Council share of
the grant and declared only N11million to the council.
However, members of the council later got wind of the actual amount approved for them, which prompted a petition to the EFCC.
When the charges were reWhen the charges were read to the accused
persons, they pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, Al
Qasim Jaafar to request the court to fix a date for the commencement of
trial.
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