The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Umar Nasko

  • Ex-Gov Aliyu, Nasko for re-arraignment on Monday

    Former Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his Chief Of Staff, Alhaji Umar Nasko will be re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Minna on Monday.

    The re-arraignment is as a result of their failure to appear before the court and respect hearing notices sent to them.

    The court, presided by Justice Aminu Bappa Aliyu, also issued a bench warrant on the former Governor and his Chief Of Staff.

    Aliyu’s offence was his failure to appear in court while Nasko’s offence is for failure to respect hearing notices served on him.

    Read Also: Fed Govt thrilled by Zainab Aliyu’s release

    Justice Bappa’s predecessor, Justice Yelim Bogoro had granted the duo bail after they met the bail conditions.

    But when Justice Bappa took over the case, he revoked the bail and ordered the accused to appear before it, an order the duo failed to compile with.

    Aliyu is standing trial alongside his then former commissioner of Environment, Nasko, on 8-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

    They are accused of laundering ecological funds of over N1.940bn released by the Federal Government to the state in 2014.

  • Ex- governor Aliyu docked for money laundering

    Ex- governor Aliyu docked for money laundering

    Former Niger governor Babangida Aliyu was on Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Minna on charge of money laundering.

    The ex governor was arraigned alongside a former Commissioner of Environment, Umar Nasko, on 8-count charge of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

    The offences are contrary to section 18(a) of the money laundering Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15(3) of same Act.

    The two are accused of laundering ecological funds of over N1.940bn released by the Federal Government to the state in 2014.

    The case was transferred from the Federal High Court Abuja to the Minna division at the instance of the defendants.

    When they charges were read to the defendants, they both pleaded not guilty.

    The EFCC prosecutor, Ben Ikani, thereafter prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison and adjourn the matter for commencement of hearing.

    Ikani urged the court to refuse the accused persons bail given the seriousness of their offence and the magnitude of the punishment.

    Counsel to the first and second defendants, Olajide Ayodele (SAN) and Mamman Osuman (SAN), however, prayed the court to use its discretion to admit their clients to bail.

    They both argued that if granted bail the accused persons will provide reasonable sure ties to stand for them.

    In her ruling, the presiding judge, Yellim Bogoro, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N250m each and two sureties, one of whom  must be a civil servant not less than the level of a director.

    Bogoro also ordered them to surrender their international passport to the court registry.

    She gave them 48 hours to fulfill their bail conditions and adjourned the matter until Jan.22, 2018 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Application on court’s competence stalls ex- governor Aliyu’s fraud trial

    Application on court’s competence stalls ex- governor Aliyu’s fraud trial

    The trial of the former governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu and his former Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko, was on Monday stalled due to an application challenging the competence of the Minna High Court to try Nasko, the second accused person.

    Aliyu and Nasko are standing trial for alleged N4.568 billion fraud and abuse office.

    At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel to Nasko, Mamman Osuman (SAN), said he had filed preliminary objection, challenging the commencement of the charges against his client.

    “The procedure by which the initial charge was brought to the court was wrong.

    “Not only was the charge defective, they compounded it by filing a second amended charge which is inappropriate,” he noted.

    Osuman prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him prepare an appropriate response to EFCC’s counter affidavit to his preliminary objection.

    “We were only served with EFCC’s counter affidavit this (Monday) morning and in accordance with the law, we can file a response on point of law.

    “That is why I need time to go back to my office and come up with an appropriate response,” the defence counsel said.

    NAN

     

  • Ex-Governor Aliyu, aide granted bail

    Ex-Governor Aliyu, aide granted bail

    A Minna High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko.

    Aliyu and Nasko were arraigned last week by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five -count charge bothering on misappropriation of over N4.5 billion belonging to the Niger State government.

    The duo were remanded at the Minna Medium Security Prisons in Tunga last Monday.

    Justice Aliyu Mayaki granted the former governor bail in the sum of N150 million with two sureties who will deposit the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to landed properties worth N200 million each in the registry.

    While Nasko was granted bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties who must deposit the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of landed properties worth N150 million each.

    The Nasko’s counsel, Mamman Mike Usman, said his client’s bail conditions were too harsh.

    He, however, expressed optimism that the conditions would be met before the close of work on Wednesday.

    The sureties to Aliyu included his elder brother, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu and one of his former commissioners, Dr. Peter Sariki.

     

     

  • Breaking: Court grants Ex-Governor Aliyu, Nasko bail

    Breaking: Court grants Ex-Governor Aliyu, Nasko bail

    Former Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his Chief of Staff, Umar Nasko has been granted bail by a Minna High Court Judge, Justice Aliyu Mayaki.

    Aliyu and Nasko were arraigned last week by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five count charge bothering on the misappropriation of over N4.5 billion belonging to the Niger state government.

    The duo were remanded in the Minna Medium Security Prisons in Tunga last week Monday.

    The bail conditions for Aliyu include a N150 million and a surety with properties valued at N200 million while Nasko is bail of N100 million and a surety with landed properties worth N150 million.

    Commending the Judge for the judgement, the Counsel to Umar Nasko, Mamman Mike Usman said that the bail conditions for his client was too harsh but the bail conditions would be met.

    The duo have met with the bail conditions and have been allowed to go to their various homes amidst jubilation from supporters.

     

  • IBB’s children join PDP campaign in Niger

    IBB’s children join PDP campaign in Niger

    Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Umar Nasko, got yesterday the endorsement of former military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

    Two of his children – Mohammed and Halima – joined the party’s campaign train.

    Mohammed and Halima were present at Nasko’s campaign at Kampala and Sarkin Pawa in Bosso and Muyan local government areas.

    Mohammed, who is also the Director of the Finance Committee of the Nasko Governorship Campaign Committee, was on the podium with the candidate. But he did not speak.

    The presence of the Babangidas in the PDP campaign team ended the speculation that their father was not sympathetic to the PDP.

    Addressing party supporters, Nasko promised to provide more social amenities, if elected next month.

    The PDP candidate said he voluntarily entered into a pact with the people of the state, adding that he would not renege on his electioneering promises.

    Governor Babangida Aliyu, a senatorial candidate in next month’s elections, assured the community of a transformer to be connected to the national grid.

    Aliyu decried the use of religious and tribal sentiments among politicians to deceive the electorate.

    The governor said his administration treated all religious and ethnic groups equally since it came to office.

    Aliyu said: “Niger State has remained peaceful because of the equal opportunities given to everyone in the state.”