October 12, (THEWILL) – A former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Gusau, Professor Magaji Garba has been arraigned before Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi Abuja on a five count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense and forgery,
The Commission in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said, Prof Garba, allegedly extorted various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the university.,
He said the offence was contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
“That you, Professor Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 15th of May, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N100 million from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Ltd., a contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the university valued at the total sum of N3bn which representation/pretence you knew to be false.
“That you, Professor Magji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 1st August, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and fifty Million Naira from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contract executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the Federal University, Gusau under the false presence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira), which representation/ pretense you knew to be false”, counts 2 and 3 of the charges read.
Prof. Garba however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir however requested that Garba be remanded in prison custody after asking for a trial date but the defence counsel, R. Usman applied for the bail of his client.
“The application was however opposed by the prosecuting counsel on the ground that he was only served around 10:33 am. Justice Aliyu, after listening to the argument of the counsel, adjourned the matter till Thursday, October 14, 2021, for hearing of the bail application and remanded the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service”, the statement said.
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