The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wednesday arraigned Mark Gbaa (alias Nasiru Nasamu), Ezekiel Ajik Azi, Bulus Ashom Agwom and Nuhu Bawa Atangs before Justice E.N. Kpojime of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi, on a six count charge of impersonation, forgery and criminal conspiracy to obtain the sum of three million US Dollars from Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State.
The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, were alleged to have conspired tofalsely present themselves as officers of EFCC who are investigating the accounts of Benue State Local Government and had sought for the sum of three million US Dollars to “kill” the case.
In a bid to actualize the scheme, one of them, Bulus Ashom Agom, who was dismissed from the Nigerian Police Force in June 2012, was alleged to have forged a Nigerian Police warrant of arrest card no 35231 which he presented to the governor.
Thereafter, Governor Suswan alerted the Department of State Security, DSS which arrested and handed them over to the EFCC. It was at EFCC office that Bulus and Nuhu Bawa Attangs made statements that led to the arrest of others.
Having taken their plea, Prosecution Counsel, J.O Uzor, asked that they be remanded in prison custody and requested for a date to commence trial. This was opposed by the defence counsel, E.A. kume for the first accused and Izang Aware for the second, third and fourth accused persons.
Justice Kpojime however granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200, 000 each and a surety in like sum. He said that the surety must be a civil servant in the service of Benue State Government who must not be less than grade level 12. He further said that all sureties and accused persons must deposit their passport photographs. The case was adjourned to May 15, 2013 for trial.
