NAN-H-91
Goje
Jos, June 21, 2017 (NAN) A Prosecution Witness (PW) in the N25 billion money laundering case against Sen. Danjuma Goje has told a Jos Federal High Court that Goje was a prudent manager who introduced due process in Gombe State.
The witness, Mohammed Tukur, a former accountant in the state, who appeared as PW 12, told the court on Wednesday that Goje insisted on, and ensured that due process was adhere to, in all transactions, when he was governor.
Goje has been facing an 18-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering since 2012.
Also being tried along with Goje are Alhaji Aliyu El-Nafarty, former Chairman, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Sambo Tumu, his cousin, who was contracted to supply food to the Government House, and one S.M. Dakoro, a businessman.
According to the EFCC, the quartet conspired to defraud the state of about N25 billion via illegal acts, contrary to, and punishable under sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 as amended.
But Tukur told the court presided by Justice Babatunde Quadiri, during a cross examination by Defence Counsel, Mr Paul Erokoro (SAN), that Goje proved himself a good leader.
“Danjuma Goje was the first person to introduce due process and insisted on its guidelines in Gombe State. He maintained that principle throughout his tenure.
“He is a man of financial prudence and a good leader. That I can testify,’’ the witness said.
Another witness, Mrs. Rukayatu Jallo (PW13), who had earlier told the court during EFCC’s Counsel, Mr Wahab Shittu’s scrutiny, that there was no mention of loan in all the budgets in Gombe, changed that stance during cross examination by Erokoro.
Jallo, Legal Officer of the Gombe House of Assmbly, said that she had now seen all the sections in the budgets and could confirm that loan facilities, both external and internal, were included in all the budgets “especially that of 2011 where the governor was entitled to a loan facility of N15 billion”.
Also testifying, Ahmed Garba, former Director, Research and Planning, in the State Universal Basic Education Commission, told the court that the award of contracts for the supply of Dictionaries followed due process.
Another witness, Mr Musa Atiku, former Clerk of the Gombe House of Assembly, who had earlier told the court that he did not sign the resolution for the N5 billion Access Bank loan facility, equally shifted from that position and declared during cross examination that he “did not protest at all”.
Responding to Erokoro’s assertion that he (Atiku) received a letter from the bank informing him of its readiness to grant the loan based on the resolution, the witness said that he did not object by way of writing.
“Yes, I did not object to the loan when I was informed,” he stated.
Justice Quadiri, after taking the witnesses, adjourned the case to Sept. 25 and 26, 2017 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)
TYC/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin