The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a former senator, Umaru Argungu, on charges of criminal misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N420million.
Mr Argungu, who represented Kebbi North in the 6th Senate, was arraigned before the Sokoto State High Court in Sokoto.
The anti-corruption agency accused Mr Argungu of diverting the total N419, 744, 612. 30 invested in his company by Sokoto State Government to create jobs and boost the economy of the state.
The money was said to have been paid by the Sokoto State Government as 40 percent equity stake in the former senator’s firm Hijrah Investment Nigeria Limited, owners of Hijrah Textile Ltd.
However, investigations revealed several withdrawals and transfers from the said account to individuals not remotely connected to the objectives of turning around the company.
A visit to the company promises by investigators, showed a company in severe state of abandonment and dilapidation.
He pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.
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Based on his plea, the prosecution counsel, S.H. Sa’ad asked the Court for a date to commence trial while defence counsel, Ibrahim Abdullahi move a verbal motion for the bail of his client.
Justice Mohammed granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50million (Fifty Million Naira) and two sureties in like sum.
The court noted that the sureties must reside and have property within the jurisdiction of the Court.
The judge further ruled that the defendant’s international passport be deposited with the Court.
The case has been adjourned till March 18, 2021 for commencement of trial.
The charge reads: “That you Senator Umar Tafida while being the Chairman of Hijrah Textiles Company Limited and Hijrah Investment Nigeria Limited sometime between 2016 and 2017 at Sokoto within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice Sokoto State, being entrusted with the total sum of N419, 744, 612. 30 (Four Hundred and Nineteen Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twelve Naira, Thirty Kobo) paid by the Sokoto State government, representing 40% investment of shareholding in your company to boost the economy of the state, dishonestly misappropriated the money in violation of the mode in which such trust was to be discharged and thereby committed Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law CAP 89, Laws of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law”.
