EFCC Re-Arraigns Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, Over N2 Billion Fraud

On Wednesday, February 14, 2019, EFCC re-arraigned Babangida Aliyu identified to be the former Niger State Governor as well as Umar Nasko and Tanko Beji, before Justice Mikailu Abdullahi of a Niger State High Court sitting in Minna.

Idonsabi also gathers that the trio is facing a seven-count charge of fraud to the tune of over N2 billion.

One of the charges reads in part:

“That you, Tanko Beji, sometime between 1st January, 2011 and 31st May, 2011 in Minna within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, abetted the commission of criminal breach of trust by intentionally aiding Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, the former governor (also known as Chief Servant) of Niger State to dishonestly convert to his own use the sum of N937,110,500 which was withdrawn from Niger State Government House Security Account”.

However, the trio of Aliyu, Nasko and Beji pleaded not guilty to the charges brought before them.

Ayodele Olajide, SAN, the defendant for Babaginda Aliyu, the former Niger State Governor, thereafter applied for the bail of his client urging the trial judge to allow Babangida Aliyu continue with the bail previously granted him by the former judge before he was changed.

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Olajide said in a statement:

“The earlier bail should stay since the defendants have not contravened the bail conditions.”

The defending counsel for Nasko, Mamman Osumam aligned with the arguments of Olajide that the bail should subsist.

The Chief Judge then granted their prayers and adjourned the case to February 21 and 22, 2019 for “mention”.

It will be recalled that Babangida Aliyu, his then Chief of Staff identified as Nasko and Beji, a former deputy chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party were initially arraigned before Justice Aliyu Maiyaki in 2017 for the charges of fraud of over N2 billion.