Alleged N2bn Fraud: Court Orders Arrest Of Ex-Gov Babangida Aliyu, Nasir Nasko

A Federal High Court in Minna, Niger State on Thursday, May 23, 2019, issued a bench warrant of arrest against former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and the former state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Umar Gado Nasko.

This followed the absence of ex-Governor Aliyu and Nasko in court despite the issuance of hearing notice on them.

Miffed by the development, the presiding judge, Justice A. B. Aliyu also revoked the bail granted to the the duo for disrespect to court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Babangida Aliyu and Nasko, following their alleged involvement in about N2billion money laundering and other financial crimes.

The accused persons were formerly arraigned before Justice Bogoro Yelin where they pleaded not guilty to the alleged offence.

But Justice Yelin has been transferred to another jurisdiction while he is presently part of judges handling disputes at the Elections Petitions Tribunals.

The matter was later assigned to Justice Aliyu who is handling the matter de novo (afresh) while the hearing notices were issued to the parties over the fresh arraignment of Babangida Aliyu and Nasko.

When the matter came up on Thursday, none of the accused persons was present in court just as their lawyers were absent.

Lawyer to one of the accused persons, Mr Osuman Mamma (SAN) was said to have written to the court that he was before an election petitions tribunal.

But the senior advocate reportedly refused to send a lawyer to represent him in court.

The development prompted the judge to revoke the bail granted to the defendants and later ordered the warrant of arrest against the accused persons.

The judge consequently adjourned the case till Monday, May 27, 2019.