EFCC arraigned the former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Abdu Bulama before Justice Hammada Dashen of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, on a 7-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N229million.
Bulama, a former minister and coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organization, was arraigned alongside Mohammed Kadai, a former Commissioner for Integrated and Rural Development in Yobe State and deputy coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Yobe State; Abba Gana Tata; Muhammad Mamu and Hassan Ibn Jaks.
The defendants allegedly conspired to make cash transactions above thresholds without going through financial institutions as required by law.
The investigation was conducted and facts were established against them which resulted in their being dragged to the court to answer to the results of their deeds.
On count one of the charge reads: That you, Dr Abdu Bulama, Mohammed Kadai, Abba Gana Tata Mamu and Hassan Jaks on or about the 27th day of March 2015 at Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did agree among yourselves to do illegal acts, to wit: conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended”.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the counts even as counsel to the EFCC, Al’Qasim Ja’afar, asked the court to fix a date for the prosecution to present its witnesses.
Justice Hammada Isa Dashen adjourned the matter to Tuesday, July 3, 2018, for the hearing of bail application and ordered the defendants to be remanded in the EFCC custody
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