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EFCC arraigns
Botmang on 31-count charge
...over N1.9b embezzlement
By
Andrew Orolua, Abuja
Former Governor of Plateau State Chief Michael Botmang was yesterday
arraigned before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a
31-counts charge of embezzlement and laundering of over 1.9 billion
Naira belonging to the Plateau State Government.
The charges were brought against him by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission [EFCC] which has been investigating the alleged
fraudulent activities since he left office when he reverted to his
position as Deputy Governor in May 2007.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered by the trial
judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere to be confined to his house in Zawang
village, near Jos, Plateau State for reason of his ill health until
8th October, 2008 when he would face the trial.
Justice Chikere refused his counsel Mr. Yankasuwa Markus Saleh‘s
oral application for bail and directed that he should come formally.
”It is a crime trial, procedure of the court should be followed”,
she said.
The counsel while making the oral application had informed the court
that Botmang was seriously ill suffering from Diabetes,
hypertension, chronic Kidney disease.
He further told the court that EFCC was fully aware that the accuse
goes for dialysis on Saturday and Tuesday every week and that it
would be impossible for the accused to survive without the dialysis
machine in his house.
According to the charges Chief Botmang who served as the governor of
Plateau State for the period the substantive governor Chief Joshua
Dariye was barred through an impeachment, allegedly paid the huge
sum into his own private bank account at the Union bank Jos branch
in 31 separate withdrawals and lodgments contrary to section 41 (1)
of the Money Laundering Act.
He was said to have on 21st February, 2007 illegally withdrawn
2million Naira from the Plateau State Government’s Union Bank
account and lodged same into his own account.
According to the charge sheet Chief Botmang withdrew the following
amount and lodged them on the following dates; 25th Nov. 2006-
500000 dollars, 30th April, 2007- N397, 27TH March,2007- N154.5
million,8th February 2007- N232.5 million, 14th April
2007-N100million ,14th July 2007-N100million,9th February 2007-N 20
million, 2ND February, 2007-N23million, 3rd March, 2007-N20 million,
9th March, 2007 in five separate withdrawals - N58million.
Other withdrawals are as follows; on 27thMarch, 2007 -N63.3Million,
27th March, 2007-in three separate withdrawals –N37million, 25th
April, 2007 – N48.8 million, and on 30th April, 2007 – in three
separate withdrawals N 280million.
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