Alleged N25b scam: EFCC rejects ex-governor’s settlement terms

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rejected out-of-court settlement terms tabled by Senator Danjuma Goje and four others.

The others are a former Gombe State Government House food supplier, Alhaji Sabo Mohammed Tumu; a former Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Aliyu Ubadone El-Nafaty; a businessman, S. M. Dokoro; and a firm, S. M. Dokoro Gombe. Goje is a former governor of Gombe State.

All the accused persons, who were first arraigned on October 17, 2011, are facing an 18-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N25billion.

The accused proposed an out-of-court settlement. A plea bargain negotiation session was held between the EFCC team and their representatives.

Those at the session were the prosecutor, Mr. Wahab Shittu, the Chief of Staff to the EFCC chairman, representatives from the Legal Unit of the anti-graft agency; the defence counsel, Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) and Goje’s representative.

A source said: “Goje and others only opted for an out-of-court settlement instead of plea bargain. They insisted that they have no case to answer because they allegedly committed no wrong. They vowed never to go into any plea bargain.

“At the end of the day, they offered to pay back only N40million to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), being accruable tax unpaid by the food supplier, who is standing trial.

“Later, the defence team reduced the amount payable to a ridiculous rate of N20million. They even added a clause that any payment effected should be credited to one of the accused persons and not Goje.

“They said once the terms are accepted, the EFCC should withdraw the charges against all the accused persons.”
But the EFCC has rejected all the terms.

Nation, December 27, 2016

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now