Katsina State Deputy Chief Accountants Sa’adu Maiwada and Sani Lawal BK were summoned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Judge M.S Abubakar of the Federal High Court of Katsina State on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, for conspiracy and money laundering Two counts.
Also on trial with the accused is a company called Integrated Gas Services Limited, of which the first accused is also the managing director.
The accused participated in the conspiracy and misappropriation of N261, 869.824.00 (2.61 million, 800 and sixty-nine thousand naira, eight hundred naira) and twenty-four , only ten cobos) from the coffers of the Katsina state government.
The stolen funds were allegedly laundered through Integrated Gas Services Limited, of which the first defendant (Maiwada) is a director.
According to one of the allegations, “you, SAADU MAIWADA, SANI LAWAL BK and Integrated Gas Services Co., Ltd., between 2016 and 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Tribunal, owned a total of N261,869.824. , 869,000, 824 naira, 10 kobo) through the Fidelity bank account of Integrated Gas Services Limited (account number 4010693761), you should note that the above funds constitute part of the proceeds of illegal activities (ie breach of trust), so you have committed An offense under section 15(2)(d) of the Anti-Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and may be penalized under section (2)(d) of the same Act 15(3) and ( 4) Article.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court entered a “not guilty” plea to a third defendant, Integrated Gas Services Ltd.
Based on their guilty pleas, prosecution lawyer Aisha Tahar Habib asked the court to fix a trial date.
The defendant’s attorney, J.P. Israel, filed a bail application on behalf of his client and asked the court to grant them bail.
Judge Abubakar granted bail at N50,000,000 (fifty million naira) per accused with two sureties who must be residents of Katsina. In addition, defendants should deposit their international passports in the registry of the court.
The case was adjourned until October 19, 2023.
