The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday detained ex-Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri, ahead of his arraignment in court today for alleged bribery and corruption arising from contracts worth about N2.9 billion.
The ex-governor will face trial before Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to a top source in EFCC, Fintiri was taken into custody yesterday ahead of his movement to court today.
The source said the ex-governor had been served a copy of the charges against him.
“All is set for the trial of Fintiri on Thursday and we have detained him in preparation for his transfer to the court.
“He is facing trial for alleged bribery and corruption from some contracts when he was acting governor of the state.
“The corruption-related charges might have to do with abuse of office too.”
Although the source did not give details, it was learnt EFCC operatives were able to establish that as a public officer (Speaker of the House of Assembly), Fintiri on November 13, 2014, allegedly registered a firm, Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, with his residence, LQ 12, Malamare GRA Quarters, Jimeta, Yola-North, Adamawa State, as the address.
The firm’s incorporation number was quoted last night as RC 695885 with the following directors: Hamidu A Umaru, Ismaila Ahmadu, Umaru Ahmadu and Faiza A. Umaru.
It was gathered that the EFCC succeeded in establishing that three of his children are among the directors.
But the ex-governor ran into trouble over award of two road contracts, including a N1 billion work for Yola township road and another N1.9 billion for road project in Mararaba Garta, which was ravaged by Boko Haram.
The top source said: “The two projects were awarded to Roycon Limited. Although there was evidence of execution of the Yola road project, the contracting firm could not move to Mararaba Garta because of Boko Haram insurgency.
“But from records, Roycon Limited was given a mobilisation fee of N200 million. But the N200 million was traced to Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, which is allegedly owned by Fintiri.
“About $3.8 million from the contract sum was alleged to have been paid to Fintiri, who used it to purchase a property in Taraba State.”
The EFCC also discovered that Fintiri took a loan from the Bank of Agriculture to purchase a tea farm from S. M. Nguroje Nigeria Limited at Maisamari (Mambila) in Sardauna Local Government of Taraba State.
But when he allegedly got the $3.8 million, he diverted it to offset the loan.
When Fintiri became acting governor, Adamawa State’s debts amounted to N8.7 bliion but within four months, the profile rose to N13.85 billion.
Following the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, in July 2014, Fintiri became acting governor. He was Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
Nyako allegedly left a balance of N1,957,045, 82 in the state government project account with a bank.
But Fintiri directed that N1.9 billion from the account be released to the Ministry of Works on August 27, 2014.
It was the same funds that landed Fintiri in trouble because the road project was not executed.
A source close to Fintiri said: “It is too early to prejudge him. You will hear his own side in the court. There is nothing in the constitution that prevents Fintiri from going into farming as a public officer.’’