A former registrar of the Zamfara State Upper Sharia Court 1 Gusau, Abubakar Garba Dandare, who was arraigned before the Zamfara State High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has been granted bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties.
The two sureties are to be from Gusau and are to deposit their passports with the Court Registrar.
Dandare was arraigned on a two-count charge, bordering on diversion of N3,837,634.46 belonging to a late businessman, Ladan Mada, and forgery of the signature of his next of kin, Aminu Ladan Mada, on the Court Cash Deposit Register.
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The EFCC is accusing the defendant of diverting N3,837,634.46, a retention fee paid by Zamfara State Ministry of Finance for the family of the late Ladan Mada, on December 4, 2012, while serving as the Registrar of Upper Sharia Court 1, Samaru, Gusau, in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria.
The presiding judge, Justice Bello Shinkafi, after listening to the arguments of both Counsel, however, granted bail to the former Court registrar.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Peter Attah, said both lawyers formally addressed the Court on the issue of jurisdiction.
He told Journalists that the Zamfara State High Court is a court of superior record, and the court will decide on the arguments regarding its jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
But, Counsel for the accused person, Bello Umar, explained that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), had arraigned his client on a non- existing law that was repealed in 2012, as Zamfara State Penal Code law.
The Court will give ruling on the issue of jurisdiction on the adjourned date.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
