At a resumed hearing in a N1billion alleged fraud case involving the former Zamfara State Governor, Ahmed Sani Yerima, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has presented its first witness in the trial before Justice Bello Tukur Gummi of Zamfara State High Court 5, Gusau, Zamfara State on issues bordering on Virement, making false statement and abuse of office.
ICPC lead counsel, Christiana Onuogu, Esq. leading several other ICPC Lawyers, during the examination-in-chief, led the witness Abdulrazak Abdulkadir of Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) of ICPC to present about 15 exhibits in the case against the former governor.
Senator Yerima had earlier been arraigned on a 19-count charge filed before Justice Bello Shinkafi of High Court 4 for allegedly diverting N385.5million and various other sums from a N1billion loan meant for the repair of a collapsed dam and the compensation of the victims, thereby contravening Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
He was granted bail in the sum of N100million and two sureties who must own landed properties worth N150million. The case could not continue before Justice Shinkafi due to the judge’s ill–health prompting ICPC to apply for the transfer of the case to another judge.
At the resumed hearing before the new judge, Justice Gummi, the defence counsel prayed the court for adjournment in line with the provision of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution to enable him study the volumes of documents tendered by the prosecution team.
The case has been adjourned to 29th and 30th November, 2016 for cross- examination of the prosecution witness and continuation of hearing.