Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office on March 17, 2020, arrested Tukur Sa’ad Dahiru, Murtala Salihu, and Zaharadeen Adamu for an alleged offence of Conspiracy and Diversion of public property.
While parading the suspects on March 19, 2020 in Sokoto, the Zonal Head, Abdullahi Lawal informed newsmen that on 20th September, 2019, the Sokoto Zonal office of the Commission received a petition written by Concern Citizens of Tambuwal against the District Head of Tambuwal, Alhaji Sa’ad Dahiru Mainasara and the former Chairman of the LG, Sambo Bello Modo, for alleged offences of Conspiracy and Diversion of public property.
The petitioners alleged that, the District Head of Tambuwal, Saad Dahiru Mainasara conspired with Sambo Bello Modo, former LG Chairman of Tambuwal LGA, Tukur Saad and sold out an Ambulance belonging to the Community’s Primary Health Care Centre, Modo in Tambuwal LGA.
“Upon arrest, the suspects admitted selling the Ambulance, which was initially purchased by Tambuwal LG at the cost of N4,000,000 (Four Million Naira) at a price of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) to one Zaharaddeen Adamu ‘M’ of Tambuwal town, and the money was shared among themselves’’, he said.
According to Lawal, the District Head’s son, one Tukur Sa’ad received N200, 000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) from Zaharaddeen, being proceed of the stolen public property and allegedly handed over the said sum to his father, the District Head, while the ex-Local Government Chairman received N100, 000 as his share. He however, handed the Ambulance key to Zaharaddeen, being the buyer.
It was further revealed that, one Alhaji Murtala A. Salihu, Manager of Nasarawa Motors, Sokoto, issued his company’s receipt to Zaharaddeen Adamu claiming that the vehicle was purchased from his company, to cover the shady deal.
He added that the Ambulance, which has been transformed to a commercial bus, has been recovered from Zaharaddeen. More so, the N300, 000 being proceeds of the transaction, has been fully recovered.
In a related development, the Commission has arrested the duo of John Mobuse and Martha Okotie in Akure, Ondo State and Warri, Delta State respectively.
They are alleged to have defrauded their victims with a fraudulent online PTDF Scholarship for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards in Nigeria Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and Universities for 2019/2020 Academic Session.
Upon their arrest, the principal suspect, John Mobuse, admitted to receiving over N1, 500, 000 (One Million Five Hundred Naira) from unsuspecting victims across the country using Martha Okotie’s account as a conduit for receiving the monies.
Also the Commission has arrested one Etsano Amaju in Sapele, Delta state for fraudulently collecting the sum of N45, 000 from one Dalhatu Ladan under the guise of selling him an Apple Laptop.
The complainant alleged that since paying the said sum to the account provided to him, neither was the laptop delivered nor his funds refunded.
In the course of investigation the suspect confessed that he had no laptop for sale and that he only duped the complainant.
He is providing information on several similar deposits of N45, 000 seen in the account and efforts are being made to contact the victims.
Investigation is still ongoing and the suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
