Press Release
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Simeol Adamu Bulus/Pic: EFCC Media Unit
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The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 9, 2015 arraigned Bulus
Adamu Samuel, former chairman of Shongom Local Government, Gombe State, now
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the State before Justice M.G Umar of
the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe on a 4-count charge bordering on
conspiracy, forgery, contract scam, misappropriation of public funds, theft and
abuse of office.
As council boss, Samuel allegedly inflated a contract for the electrification of
17.5 Km route covering nine villages in the Shongom Local Government Council
awarded to Tican Engineering Company Nigeria Limited in the sum of Ninety Seven
Million, Six Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N97, 640,000.00).
Count two of
the charge reads: “that you, Bulus Samuel Adamu (m), on or about the 2nd
day of December, 2009 at Shongom, Shongom Local Government of Gombe State
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being the Accounting
Officer of the said Local Government Council, to wit: the Chairman, Shongom
Local Government Council, approved and directed the payment of the sum of
seventy three million, two hundred and thirty thousand Naira (73,230,000.00)
only to Tican Engineering Company Nigeria Limited, being 75 percent payment of
mobilization fee over a contract for the rural electrification in Keffi, Kwara,
Gangamari, Daja, Gurwa, Gundale, Bebbulo, Kuka and Damjigiri of the said Local
Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under
section 35 and 58(5) of the public Procurement Act, 2007 respectively”.
The accused
person pleaded not guilty when to the charge.
In view of his
plea, counsel to EFCC, Nnemeka Omewa prayed the court to fix a date for hearing
and to remand the accused in prison custody.
However, the
defense counsel, A. Malle through an oral application urged the court to
consider the accused for bail.
Justice Umar
ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending the formal
application for his bail and adjourned the case to April 2, 2015 for trial to
commence.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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