Also remanded were a former Commissioner for Finance, Sanda Lamurde and, a former Chief Store Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Feredan George.

Highlights:

• Justice Bilkisu Aliyu gave the order on Wednesday, at the hearing of a case of alleged forgery and stealing brought against the trio by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC ) – The accused are facing 16 charges bordering on forgery, theft and fraud.
• The EFCC Counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, said the suspects were arraigned following a petition received from members of Agricultural Transformation Agro-Allied Farmers Cooperative Union, Adamawa chapter.
• The union, in its petition to the EFCC, had alleged that the loan granted to Adamawa State farmers, from the Central Bank of Nigeria. were not disbursed to them – the funds were diverted into the purchase of food for IDPs by the state government.
• The suspects conspired among themselves and diverted the funds amounting to N587 million released by the Adamawa State Government to buy food and other basic needs of IDPs, Mr Aliyu said.
• He said that the crime was committed between March and May 2015.
• The judge, who adjourned the case to Nov. 10 for trial, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their bail application.