Boni Haruna re-arraigned over N200m fraud

Category: News Published on Thursday, 07 March 2013 05:00 Written by Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz, Yola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday re-arraigned former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna before the Federal High Court in Yola, for alleged fraud, conspiracy, forgery, diversion and laundering of public funds to the tune of over N200 million while at the helm of affairs in the state. The former governor was arraigned alongside Mohammed

Inuwa Basi, his former personal assistant, John Babani Elias, former commissioner of finance and Al-Akim Nigeria Limited, a private firm allegedly owned by the former commissioner.

The case was before Justice Bello of the Federal High Court Abuja, but later transferred to the Federal High Court Yola, which is presided over by Justice Bilkisu Bello Aliyu. The accused persons have been on trial since 2008.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Counsel to the EFCC, Ofem Uket, said the accused committed an offence contrary to Section (3) and (6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Laws of Nigeria 2004.

John Elias, who is also the Managing Director of Al-Akim Company Nigeria Limited, is being accused of using the said company to siphon millions of naira to facilitate the BBB project (Bring Boni Back project).

The former finance commissioner, John Elias and the Al-Akim Company Nigeria Limited, who are the third and fourth respondents in the trial were absent in court, and the court ordered that they should appear before the Federal High Court next Thursday.

After the court session, the former governor told Journalists that the re-opening of the case has a political undertone.

He noted that the case which has been pending since 2008, ought to have been concluded by now, and that the re-opening of the case implies that it is starting afresh.