N1BN FRAUD: ICPC arraigns ex-Gov Dakingari

Immediate past governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, was on Wednesday arraigned in court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged misappropriation of N1.094 billion belonging to the state.

He was arraigned before Justice Ismail Bashir of the Kebbi State High Court 2, in Birnin Kebbi, for allegedly misappropriating the money, which part of it, according to ICPC, was meant to be used for the 2015 general elections.

The anti-graft agency said the former governor connived with the Commissioner for Finance, during his administration, Mohammed Tunga, and a former Secretary to the Kebbi State Government, Alhaji Garba Kamba, to defraud the state of a sum of N349, 475,000.

In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, The ICPC alleged that the N349 million was meant for the provision of generators and other logistics for polling units in Kebbi State during the 2015 general elections.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, the court was told that the former commissioner of finance is now deceased. Consequently, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to strike out the late commissioner’s name. The request was granted.

Dakingari was Kebbi State governor between 2007 and 2015. He was said to have also during his reign allegedly conspired with his political associates to misappropriate the sum of N430, 000,000, which was released to provide logistics support for security agencies during the 2015 general elections.

And that he allegedly siphoned N315, 000,000 meant for enlightenment programmes for Islamic clerics to educate their followers on the 2015 elections in the 21 local government areas of the state.

The prosecutor, Elijah Akaakohol, told the presiding judge that the actions of the former governor  were contrary to and punishable under sections 19 and 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

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According to the ICPC, the defendant, if convicted, is liable to be jailed for five years without an option of fine.

The governor meanwhile pleaded not guilty to all the allegations levelled against him and his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), demanded for his bail.

The bail application was granted in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum, who also must possess property worth N10 million, which must be located within the jurisdiction of the court.

The matter was later adjourned till December 4 and 5, 2018 for the commencement of trial.

 

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