Alleged N 5bn Fraud: You Have A Case To Answer, Court Tells Ex-Gombe Gov, Goje

Justice Babatunde Quadric of a Federal High Court, Jos, Plateaus State has ruled that a former Governor of Gombe State, senator Danjuma Goje, has a case to answer on counts eight and nine of the 21-count charge preferred against him by EFCC.

Goje, a serving Senator, is standing trial before Justice Babatunde Quadri along with a former Executive Chairman of the state’s Universal Basic Education Board, Aliyu El-Nafaty; S.M. Dokoro, and the ex-governor’s cousin, Sabo Tumu for an alleged N5 billion fraud.

EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade in a statement said the suspects are facing trial following their alleged involvement in financial impropriety, including the award of contracts for food supply to the state’s Government House, during his tenure.

The anti-graft agency, according to Orilade had through its counsel, Wahab Shittu, closed its case against them, on May 31, 2018 after calling 25 witnesses and tendering several documents to prove its case.

He added, “Rather than open its defence, counsel for Goje, Chris Uche, SAN, on September 14, 2018 filed a “no-case” submission.

“At today’s proceeding, January 25, 2019 Uche informed the Court of the death of Tumu. He tendered the death certificate and police report, which indicated that he died in an accident.

“Shittu, thereafter, expressed the shock of the prosecution, and condoled with the family of the deceased. He then applied that his name be struck out of the charge sheet.

“It is against the law anywhere in the world to continue trial of a dead person,” he said.

“The trial judge granted his application, and Tumu’s name was removed.