Posted by Amarachi on Tue 19th Oct, 2021 - tori.ng
The education secretary and four other officials were remanded for allegedly diverting the 800 bags meant for public school children in two local government areas of the state.
Court Remands Five For Allegedly Selling Donated School Bags In Adamawa
Five men who allegedly sold 800 bags meant for free distribution in Adamawa state have been remanded in prison custody.
A court in the state capital, Yola, remanded an education secretary and four other officials for allegedly diverting the 800 bags meant for public school children in two local government areas of the state.
The Yola Criminal Area Court II remanded the Education Secretary of Mubi South Local Government Area, Jibrilla Babale, and four other officers for allegedly diverting the 800 bags supplied by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for pupils in public schools in Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs.
Those the court remanded alongside the Education Secretary include the UNICEF Co-ordinator of Distribution for Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs, Mustapha Mohammed as well as Musa Mahmud, Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya.
The defendants were charged to court by the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, for criminal conspiracy, breach of official trust, and receiving stolen property.
Barde, who was represented by Inspector Boyom Alex, told the court that operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Yola apprehended the suspects following a tipoff on October 14th and 16th, 2021, respectively.
Babale said to have been officially entrusted with UNICEF school bags to be distributed to pupils in public schools free of charge, allegedly diverted 800 pieces for his personal use.
The prosecutor said the Education Secretary diverted 800 bags and gave them to the UNICEF Distribution Co-ordinator, Mustapha Mohammed, who sold some to Musa Mahmud of Mubi North at N330,000.
The prosecutor said Musa Mahmud later sold the bags to Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya of Mubi North respectively at N420,000.
When the First Information Report (FIR) was read and explained to them as applied by Inspector Boyom Alex, the defendants said the police report was not true.
The Counsel to all the defendants, T. U. Danjuma, prayed the court to admit all his clients to bail, Inspector Boyom objected to the bail plea, saying that their operatives are out to get others arrested and that granting them bail will jeopardise their effort.
Ruling, the presiding judge, Hon. Musa Nuhu Garta, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to 1st November 2021.