The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, March 9, 2015 arraigned Bulus Adamu Samuel, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Gombe State on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, contract scam, misappropriation of public funds, theft and abuse of office.
The accused who was formerly Chairman of Shongom Local Government, of the State, was arraigned before Justice M.G Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe.
Samuel, while being the council boss allegedly inflated a contract for the electrification of 17.5 Km route covering nine villages in the Shongom Local Government Council awarded to Tican Engineering Company Nigeria Limited in the sum of Ninety Seven Million, Six Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira (N97, 640,000.00).
Count two of the charge reads: “that you, Bulus Samuel Adamu (m), on or about the 2nd day of December, 2009 at Shongom, Shongom Local Government of Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being the Accounting Officer of the said Local Government Council, to wit: the Chairman, Shongom Local Government Council, approved and directed the payment of the sum of seventy three million, two hundred and thirty thousand Naira (73,230,000.00) only to Tican Engineering Company Nigeria Limited, being 75 percent payment of mobilization fee over a contract for the rural electrification in Keffi, Kwara, Gangamari, Daja, Gurwa, Gundale, Bebbulo, Kuka and Damjigiri of the said Local Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 35 and 58(5) of the public Procurement Act, 2007 respectively”.
The accused person pleaded not guilty when to the charge.
In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Nnemeka Omewa prayed the court to fix a date for hearing and to remand the accused in prison custody.
However, the defense counsel, A. Malle through an oral application urged the court to consider the accused for bail. Justice Umar ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending the formal application for his bail and adjourned the case to April 2, 2015 for trial to commence.
Media & Publicity
9th March, 2015
