Trial of a former
governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, got underway on Thursday January 26,
2017 before Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in
Maitama, Abuja with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC
presenting its first witness, Ibrahim Andrew.
Fintiri, who was also a
member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, is facing a 5-count charge of
money laundering.
He was arraigned on June
30, 2016 alongside Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, for allegedly
laundering monies to the tune of N2.9billion through his naira and dollar
accounts domiciled at Ecobank Plc., as well as making a large cash payment for the
purchase of a property at Plot Number 7, Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja when he
held sway as the acting governor of the State.
The offence is in
contravention of Section 15(2)(a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act,
2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) and (4) of the same
Act.
Andrew, while being led
in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Larry P. Aso,
told the court that,
when he was appointed Secretary to the State Government, he requested for
briefing from various ministries and their responses showed that state funds
running billions of naira were misappropriated.
He also explained how
the defendant (Fintiri) during the press briefing as the acting Governor
claimed to have received N21billon in the 86 days he spent in office.
The witness went further
to explain how the defendant also claimed to have spent N2.8billion on projects, mainly in Malamre ward in Jimeta
Local Government Area which was under attack by the insurgency at that time.
On the transaction of N475million,
which was meant for the construction of Faculty of LAW at the Adamawa State
University, the witness said that there was no construction adding that only
the foundation was laid.
Two documents were
tendered as exhibits.
Though, the defense counsel,
M. A. Magaji, SAN, objected its admissibility, his objection was overruled and the documents were
admitted as exhibit A and B.
The case has been
adjourned to March 2, 2017 for the continuation of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head Media &
Publicity
26th
January, 2017
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