A former Adamawa State Commissioner for Finance and Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs, John Elias, was yesterday October 22nd arraigned
before Justice B.B Aliyu of Federal High Court Yola, Adamawa State over a
N20 million fraud.
A statement from EFCC states that Elias allegedly sold and appropriated
some properties, which are under interim forfeiture to the Federal
Government.
An evaluation exercise conducted by the EFCC on the forfeited properties
revealed that Elias sold a landed property situated at Galadima Aminu
Way, Yola to one Hamid Yusuf for N20,000,000.00( Twenty Million Naira)
through his agent, Jibril Mairiga. He also allegedly gave another
property on Atiku Abubakar Way, Yola, Adamawa State,to his brother, Dr.
Joel Yohanna, for use as a private hospital.
The former Commissioner is also alleged to have coerced the tenants in
another property to be paying their rents to Al-Akim Investment Limited
without authorization by the EFCC.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Al-kim Investment Nigeria Limited
and John Babani Elias (M), sometimes in February, 2011 at Jimeta-Yola,
Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and
without due authorization by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission dealt with, having put tenants and collecting rents in and
over the property known as four unit houses behind First Bank of Nigeria
Plc. Jimeta, Yola and which property is a subject of an interim order
of forfeiture issued on the 13th day of December, 2005 by the Federal
High Court, Lagos in charge No. FHC/L/CS/1258/2005, contrary to and
punishable under section 32(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (Establishment) Act 2004”.
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. The presiding
judge, Justice Aliyu granted Elias bail in the sum of N5million with a
surety in like sum and fixed December 15, 2015 for trial.
Title : EFCC arraigns former Adamawa Commissioner for N20m Land Fraud
Description : A former Adamawa State Commissioner for Finance and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, John Elias, was yesterday October 22nd arra...
