Saharareporters has reliably learned that the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) will tomorrow commence the prosecution of Attahiru Bafarawa, the former Governor of Sokoto State, at the Federal High Court in Sokoto.
But the former governor, desperate to frustrate the process, hurriedly filed an exparte motion which came up for hearing late this afternoon at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court. Bafarawa’s scheme is led by his lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN).
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It was evident in the courtroom that the chess pieces were already being moved by powerful unseen hands, as Justice Okorowo, presiding, complained he had been pressurized into hearing the matter very late in the day. He did not specify where the pressure was coming from. Mr. Tarfa profusely pleaded with the judge to decide on the application in which he prays for the immediate release of his client on personal recognition pending the determination of a motion on notice filed on behalf of the former Governor where he is challenging his arrest and detention. It would be recalled that the former Governor was fingered by an Administrative Panel set up by his predecessor, Matagarda Wammakko, who incidentally was his deputy for a while.
The Government of Sokoto State which investigated the misappropriation of the allocations received by the state from the Federal Government during his tenure claimed he siphoned off several billions of naira through 47 bank accounts. Nine of the Commissioners who served under Bafarawa’s administration have been arrested and are awaiting the arraignment of their former boss. Bafarawa was alleged to have frittered away the whopping sum of 15 billion Naira, deducted from the State and Local Government Joint Accounts. It was alleged that the whooping sum was illegally diverted from the projects for which they were meant and stuffed into private bank accounts.
A reliable source within the anti financial crimes agency told this medium that the Commission will outsmart the embattled former Governor as all arrangements had been concluded to fly him out of Abuja tonight and that by the time the Abuja court will be delivering the ruling on his enforcement of fundamental rights proceedings tomorrow morning, Bafarawa might be taking his plea to charges of stealing Sokoto state’s funds in a federal court of appropriate jurisdiction. This much may have been anticipated by Bafarawa’s lawyer as he attempted to pressurize Justice Okorowo to deliver the ruling on their exparte application immediately but the attempts failed as the judge insisted on going through all the materials put before him by the applicant before reaching a decision on the matter.
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Among the orders sought by Bafarawa is a stay of all actions relating to his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of the funds of Sokoto state as unearthed by the Investigation Panel which he claimed did not grant him a fair hearing before reaching the damning conclusion that he has a case to answer.
Bafarawa’s supporters, led by a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Sokoto State, were seen discussing with the lawyers over the fate their attempts had suffered.
The judge adjourned ruling on their application for tomorrow, 16th December 2009.
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