Coast not clear yet for ex-Gov Ngilari, as EFCC moves to appeal acquittal

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is going to appeal the ruling of an Appeal Court which discharged and acquitted former Adamawa State Governor, Bala Ngilari, of corruption.

The EFCC disclosed its intention to appeal the ruling in a statement released by its spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren.

He stated that, “The commission has therefore resolved to appeal the ruling because the EFCC believes that the judgment is a travesty of justice”.

The statement read, “EFCC is to appeal the July 20, 2017 Court of Appeal ruling, which acquitted a former Adamawa State governor, Bala Ngilari, of the five-count charge of corruption, which the state’s High Court had on March 6, 2017 found him guilty of, and sentenced him to five years in jail.

“Ngilari was arraigned before Justice Nathan Musa on a 17-count charge in September 2016, and after going through 52 exhibits tendered by the EFCC, as well as the testimony of six witnesses, the trial judge found him guilty of five out of the counts, and sentenced him to five years in prison on all the counts without an option of fine.”

Read also: Corruption: Adamawa ex-Gov Ngilari discharged, acquitted by A’Court

The commission noted that the former governor was controversially granted bail on health grounds by a Yola High Court 1 presided over by Justice Nathan Musa, after he appealed against his five-year conviction.

And ruling on the appeal on Thursday, the Appeal Court sitting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, discharged and acquitted Ngilari.

EFCC had accused Ngilari of corruption and alleged violation of procurement laws in the award of N167 million contract to one El-Yadi Motors Limited for the supply of 25 units of operational vehicles (Toyota Corolla).

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

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