The Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State capital, has ordered a former Minister of Science and Technology, Abdul Bulama, and four others to enter their defence in the N450 million fraud charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Fadima Aminu ruling on a no-case submission by the defendants, held that based on the testimonies of the witnesses and exhibits tendered before the court, the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendant to warrant them to enter their defence.
The court thereafter adjourned till October 19 and 20, 2023, for the defendant to open their defence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Maiduguri zonal command, is prosecuting Bulama on a seven-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N450 Million.
The former minister was re-arraigned on November 8, 2021, alongside Mohammed Kadai, a former Commissioner for Integrated and Rural Development in Yobe State, Abba Gana Tata, Muhammad Mamu, and Hassan Ibn Jaks.
Bulama served as the Coordinator of former President, Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election Campaign Committee in Yobe State, while Kadai was his Deputy, with the other three defendants as members. They were alleged to have received the said sum in order to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
Count one of the charges reads, “That you, DR. ABDU BULAMA, HON. MOHAMMED KADAI, ABBAs GANA TATA, MUHAMMAD MAMU, AND HASSAN IBN JAKS on or about the 27th day of March 2015 at Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty upon re-arraignment to all the counts and the matter proceeded to trial with counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, presenting five witnesses and tendering several documents in evidence before the court before closing its case.
The defendants, however, opted for a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
