Court documents filed by the Bauchi State Government have shed fresh light on allegations against former Accountant-General of the state, Sa’idu Abubakar, accusing him of fraudulently obtaining billions of naira in loans through forged government approvals and diverting the funds through fictitious contracts.
The allegations are contained in a 16-count amended charge before the Bauchi State High Court, where Abubakar is facing accusations ranging from fraud and forgery to criminal breach of trust, deception and abuse of office involving an estimated N40 billion.
According to the prosecution, the former Accountant-General allegedly secured several loan facilities from United Bank for Africa and Polaris Bank by presenting forged State Executive Council resolutions, House of Assembly approvals and Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs).
The state government contends that neither Governor Bala Mohammed nor the State Executive Council authorised the loans.
Investigators further alleged that Abubakar falsely informed key government officials, including the Clerk of the State House of Assembly and the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, that the required approvals had been obtained.
The court filings claim that the alleged scheme was used to obtain loans running into billions of naira for contracts purportedly meant to supply motorcycles to civil servants across the state.
Among the transactions cited is a N3 billion loan obtained from UBA for the alleged supply of 5,000 motorcycles, a N4.65 billion facility from Polaris Bank for 15,000 motorcycles and another N3.36 billion loan from UBA for 7,000 motorcycles.
Prosecutors maintain that the contracts never existed and that the funds were unlawfully diverted after being disbursed.
The charge sheet also accuses the former Accountant-General of forging repayment documents and using forged resolutions to secure the facilities on behalf of the state government.
In several counts, the prosecution alleged that loan proceeds were paid to a company identified as Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises under the guise of executing the motorcycle supply contracts.
The Bauchi State Government further accused Abubakar of possessing forged government documents and breaching the trust reposed in him as custodian of public funds by obtaining unauthorised loans in the name of the state.
The matter is currently before the Bauchi State High Court, where the prosecution is seeking to establish the allegations contained in the amended 16-count charge.
Abubakar has yet to be convicted, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.
(The Whistler)
