by Lanre Adewole, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had arraigned two Muslim clerics and a reverend over their alleged collaboration in diverting a gift of N10 million by the Taraba State government to the Muslim Council.
A statement issued by Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson of the commission on Sunday read: “The Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three clerics before Justice M. S. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State on six count charges bordering on money laundering and obtaining N10million by false pretences.
“Alhaji Inuwa Usman and Alhaji Chindo M.D. Bose, both leaders of the Taraba State chapter of the Muslim Council allegedly conspired with Reverend John Simon Jatutu, who was the Special Adviser to the state Government on Religious Matters to divert part of the funds approved to the council by the state government towards the celebration of the country’s golden jubilee.“The Taraba State government had in September 2010, approved N42million for the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Muslim Council for the 50th independence celebration.
The two bodies shared the money equally with each getting N21million but the three accused persons cornered N10million from the Muslim Council share of the grant and declared only N11million to the council. “But members of the council later got wind of the actual amount approved for them, which prompted a petition to the EFCC. “When the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty to all charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Al Qasim Jaafar, to request the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
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