A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Malumfashi, and three others in prison over their alleged involvement in a N1.02 billion fraud.
Others remanded by the trial Judge, Justice James Omotosho included the Commission’s secretary, Anas Muhammed Mustapha, and the deputy director of accounts, Ado Garba, who were arraigned along with Prof Malumfashi on a six-count charge preferred against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC alleged that the defendants syphoned funds from coffers of the Kano state electoral body, using bank accounts of a farm.
In count one of the charge, ICPC told the court that the defendants, between November and December 2024 in Kano state, conspired among themselves to take possession of the sum of N450 million in cash using two accounts of SLM Agro Global Farm domiciled in Jaiz Bank.
The ICPC also alleged that within the same period, the three Kano electoral officials diverted N310 million and N260 million into account nos. 0018222634 and 0015932143 at Jaiz Bank—accounts belonging to the farm.
It told the court that the defendants, by their action, committed an offence contrary to Sections 2(1)(b) & 18(2)(d) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Meanwhile, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge when they were read out to them and prayed the court to release them on bail pending the determination of allegations against them.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Mahmud Magaji, SAN, told the court that his clients were previously on administrative bail.
“My lord, the defendants have never violated any of the terms of the administrative bail,” Magaji, SAN, added prayed the court to accede to the oral bail application, disclosing that he was newly briefed to handle the matter.
On his part, the prosecution counsel, Dr Osuobeni Akponimisingha, said, though he opposed to the release of the defendants on bail, he would leave it to the court’s discretion.
In a short ruling, Justice Omotosho ordered the defendants to file a formal application for bail to enable the prosecution to respond accordingly and adjourned the matter till Wednesday.
The court ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
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