Sani Yerima For Trial By ICPC

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed 19 charges at the High Court of Zamfara State against serving senator(representing Zamfara West Senatorial District) and former governor Sani Yerima. Yerima, who left office as governor 2007,is set to face trial for alleged mismanagement of N1billion loan meant for the repair of Gusau Dam in 2006. Yerima will be tried along with three others — Alhaji Hashim A. Dikko, Development Management Limited and HAD Nigeria Limited. According to ICPC, about N425, 491,736.75 of the N1billion was allegedly diverted to other purposes, including assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), furniture allowance, consultancy fee, Ramadan feeding, Hajj and purchase of cars.

The charges against Senator Sani Yerima are that he:

- on or about November, 2006 whilst being the Governor of Zamfara State at Gusau spent money allocated for one project on another to wit: out of N1 billion additional budgetary allocation by Zamfara State House of Assembly for the repair of collapsed Gusau Dam and settlement of the victims of the said dam, which was obtained through a bank loan, spent the sum of N20m purportedly on assistance to INEC and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;

- on or about October 2006 spent N10million purportedly on donation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;
spent N43,008,000 purportedly on surveillance of guests and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;

- spent N21,450,000 purportedly on settlement of publication equipment and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;

- spent N64,332,734 purportedly on sponsorship of government officials to Hajj and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;

- spent the sum of N32,646,286 purportedly on settlement of accommodation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;

- spent N15,800,000 purportedly on furniture allowance and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000;

- spent N29,200,000 purportedly on purchase of 2000 Nanfang motorcycles and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under
Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000; and that Sani on or about October 2006 spent N23,859,692 purportedly on payment to automobile company and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22 (5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

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