Sani Lawal BK, Deputy Accountant-General of Katsina State has been accused of conniving with one Saadi Maiwada, a former sub-treasurer in the office of the Accountant-General to steal N289 million from the state’s treasury.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the duo before a High Court in Katsina on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson for EFCC, in a statement on June 8, said the convicts, while serving as sub-treasurer and deputy-sub treasurer, stole the money through the account of Integrated Gas Services Limited, a company where Maiwada, the former sub-treasurer, is a director.
Subsequently, EFCC said a sum of N49 million was transferred from the account of Integrated Gas Services Limited to the personal account of the deputy accountant-general.
“That you, Saadu Miawada and Sani Lawal BK sometime in 2017 at Katsina within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being entrusted with dominion over money belonging to Katsina State Government dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of N120,790,942.86 (One Hundred and Twenty Million, Seven Hundred Ninety Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-two Naira, Eighty-six Kobo) which was transferred from Katsina State Government Sub -Treasury Expenditure Account number 1012424374 domiciled in United Bank for Africa (UBA) PLC to Integrated Gas Services Company Limited’s Fidelity Bank account no 4010693761 (CO1717299) and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 297 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State 2021,” one of the charges read.
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The convicts, however, pleaded not guilty and Aisha Tahar Habib, prosecution counsel prayed the court for a trial date.
Counsel for the accused, J B Israel, orally applied for his clients’ bail, but the prosecution objected, arguing that the application must be formal for record purposes.
Subsequently, the accused were granted N5 million bail each. They were asked to provide sureties who have landed properties within Katsina. In addition, they are to provide letters of introduction from a traditional ruler in Katsina. The case was adjourned till July 24 for trial.
