The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission through its prosecuting counsel applied for trial of four former Gombe State revenue officials before Justice Nehizena Afolabi of the Federal High Court, Gombe.
The suspects namely Aishatu Yakubu, Mohammed Mohammed, Wesley Audu and Mijinyawa Labaran were arraigned on 25 counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering.
The defendants were former executive director, Admin and Finance; executive director, Tax Operation; executive director, Tax and Audit and executive director, Non-Tax Operations, who allegedly connived to pay allowances and benefits that amounted to N47m without government’s approval.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, A.Y. Muntaka, applied to the court for a date to commence the trial.
The defence counsel, Habu Abdu, sought the leave of the court to move the bail application of his clients, which was granted by the judge.
PUNCH reported that Justice Afolabi ruled that the defendants bail in the sum of N15m each and two sureties in like sum.
