A former Director-General of the Small, Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bature Masari has been arraigned over allegations of misappropriation and money laundering.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) docked Masari yesterday before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of an FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja on a 27-count charge bordering on misappropriation, embezzlement and money laundering to the tune of N189.6million.
The charge said the offences were committed sometimes in 2014 when the defendant was in charge of the agency. He allegedly received the sum of N20 million from Hamshakim Ventures for constituency contracts awarded to the company while he was in charge of the agency.
The case was thereafter adjourned to November 26-29 for hearing with the prosecution ordered to produce all its witnesses in court on the adjourned dates.
