By ONIMISI ALAO, Yola

A Court in the Adamawa State capital, Yola, has remanded an Education Secretary and four other persons for allegedly diverting 800 bags meant for school children.

The Criminal Area Court II in Yola remanded the Education Secretary of Mubi South Local Government Area, Jibrilla Babale, and four other individuals for allegedly diverting the 800 bags donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for pupils in public schools in Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs.

Those the court remanded along with Jibrila Babale include the UNICEF Coordinator of Distribution for Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs, Mustapha Mohammed as well as Musa Mahmud, Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya.

The five were charged to court by the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, on charge of criminal conspiracy, breach of official trust and receiving of stolen property.

CP Barde, who is being represented in the case by Inspector Boyom Alex, told the Court that a team of operatives attached to State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Yola, led by Abraham Adamu, apprehended the suspects following a tipoff in connection to the alleged crime on the 14th and 16th of October, 2021, respectively.

Jibrilla, said to have been officially entrusted with UNICEF school bags to be distributed to pupils in public schools free of charge, allegedly diverted 800 pieces which he gave to the UNICEF Distribution Co-ordinator, Mustapha Mohammed, who in turn sold some to Musa Mahmud of Mubi North at N330, 000.

The prosecutor said Musa Mahmud later sold the bags to Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya at N420, 000, “while knowing fully well that the bags were provided to be distributed free of charge and not sold to anyone.”

When the First Information Report (FIR) was read and explained to the defendants they all pleaded not guilty.

The Counsel to all the defendants, T. U. Danjuma, prayed the Court to admit all his clients to bail, saying that the defendants had given assurances that they would neither jump bail nor interfere in the ongoing investigation.

Responding, the prosecuting officer objected to the application filed by the Defence Counsel, saying that their operatives are out there to get others arrested and that granting them bail will jeopardise their effort.

Ruling, the presiding Judge, Hon. Musa Nuhu Garta, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to 1st November, 2021 for further hearing. (The Nation)

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