EFCC arraigns REA director for alleged N223.4m fraud — Every day Nigerian
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, Sulieman Garba Bulkwang earlier than Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja for fraud.
In an announcement on Friday, the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, mentioned Mr Bulkwang is being prosecuted on a five-count cost, bordering on felony diversion of funds and cash laundering to the tune of N223,412,909.
Count one of his cost reads “That you SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG, while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did counsel one Umaefulem Donatus Chibueze, the Managing Director of Cees Assist Resources and Brainstask Value Resources (consultants to REA) to transfer the sum of N138,123,969 (One Hundred and Thirty eight Million, One Hundred Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira) out of the sum of N279,330,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) paid to the consultants by REA, when you knew that the said sun of N138,123,969.000000 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Count two reads “That you SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) sometime in July, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly converted the sum of N45,000,000.00 (Forty Five Milion Naira) being part of the money cumulatively paid to the bank accounts of Dammy Gold Programme Ltd, World Class Business, Green Haven Company And De-Sam Rose – Base Ltd by consultants to REA when you know that the said sum of N45,000.000 .00 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) (b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to all the fees after they have been learn to him and within the absence of defence counsel, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN prayed the courtroom for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional heart.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until February 3, 2024 for the defendant’s bail software and ordered that he be remanded in Kuje Correctional Center.
