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Court struck out money laundering and
forgery charges against Danjuma Goje, others
By Dickson Gupiya
March 21, 2019
The Federal
High Court sitting in Jos struck out all charges bordering on money laundering,
misappropriation forgery and diversion of six billion naira belonging to Gombe State
filed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), against Senator Danjuma
Goje, the former Governor of Gombe State.
The former
governor has in 2011 alongside former Executive Chairman, Gombe state, State
Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaj iAliyu Ubandoma El-Nafaty, Food
Supplier to Gombe state Government, Sabo Tumu, and Auctioneer, S.M Dokoro were
accused of allegly of laundering, diverting and misappropriating the sum of
N6.6 billion between 2007 to 2011.
The Economic
and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), has accused Goje of misappropriating
Gombe state’s N5 billion loan from Access Bank that was granted by the state’s
House of Assembly to complete infrastructure in the state and N1.4 billion
contract for the supply of stationaries to the primary and junior secondary
schools in the state through the State Universal Basic Education Board,
(SUBEB).
However,
Sen. Goje through his Counsel Paul Eroroko entered a case of no plea bargain
but the prosecution Counsel Wahap Sittu vehemently objected stressing that the
allegations against the former Governor, were too weighty and provided the
ingredients of offence to proof that the defendants have case to answer.
In his
ruling, Justice Babatunde Quadri, said based on the evidences provided in the
court and the failure of the prosecution witnesses to link Goje to any misappropriation
of funds or money laundry when he was the
governor of the state, he , alongside three others have been discharged.
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| Defence Counsel , Paul erokoko speaking to Journalists after court session today |
Justice
Quadri said he couldn't find where in the 19 charges, Goje was found guilty of
the charges against him looking at the ingredients of the offences. Justice
Quadri also said based on the evidence before the court, Goje didn't launder,
diverted, misappropriated or awarded the contract of N1.6 billion contract for
the supply of dictionaries to the primary and junior secondary schools in the
state through the State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB) without due
process.
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| Senator Goje with at the Federal High Court Premises Jos on Friday |
"My
submission on the case is , Charge 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 19 and 21 which bordered on diversion, laundering and misappropriation
were not proven by the prosecutor".
The Judge
however ordered Goje as 1st defendant and based on count charge 8 and 9 to
enter witness box to defend on why he gave order of auctioning of 50 Toyota vehicles
to the 3rd defendant.
The matter
was adjourned to May 8, 2019.
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