Court Remands Ex-Gov Aspirant In Prison Over N12m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a former governorship aspirant under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue state over a N12million scam. The aspirant, Mr. Joshua Mennaseh was docked at a Kano High Court  presided over by  Justice Abdullahi  Bello on a seven count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and intent to defraud.  Mennasah, 45,  had defrauded one Mr Boniface Agu of twelve million naira in a business deal sometimes in 2007. Mennasah, who, in the course of the arraignment pleaded not guilty to all the charges imputed to him, also described himself as a politician and businessman. He allegedly secured a contract for the supply of twenty thousand units of motor cycles worth two hundred and seventy million naira (N270million)  from Kano state Teachers Board.  The accused approached Agu to part -finance the supply with an  agreement to refund him when he was paid. Althogh, there was no written document to show that the two entered into contractual obligations, there however witnesses to the gentlemen agreement. Mennasah supplied the motor cycles and collected his money but did not refund the money he collected from Mr Agu  as verbally agreed and witnessed. He denied making the complainant part of the business but said he only provided fund for facilitation and accommodation. However, investigations revealed that he collected the sum from the complainant for initial purchase of some units of the motor cycle in order to secure a  bank guarantee bond for submission to Kano Teachers Board. Investigations also unearthed receipts issued in the name of the complainant for the purchase of some motor cycles. Furthermore, cheques issued to Mr Agu for payment of the money used for facilitation and accommodation according to Mennasah bounced. The judge, after listening to all the charges and Mennasah’s pleas on Tuesday July 6, adjourned the case till July 13, 2010 for ruling on application for bail while he ordered that the accused should be remanded in Kano prison.