Chairman of Kauru local government area of Kaduna State, Usman Shehu; his deputy, Paul Yerima; and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman in the council, Timothy Chindo, were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, November 27, 2014.
The accused persons were dragged to the Kaduna State High Court on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
According to the EFCC, in February 2013, the trio allegedly conspired to fraudulently misappropriate the council’s share of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, funds amounting to N68 million.
The money was meant for the renovation of primary healthcare centres, primary schools, construction of boreholes and purchase of poverty alleviation materials across the 11 wards of the council.
“That you Alhaji Usman Shehu, Timothy Chindo and Paul Yerima, sometime between January 2012 to January, 2013 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the High Court, being entrusted with dominion over property to wit: N68 million belonging to Kauru Local Government, did commit Criminal Breach of the said property and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code,” one of the charges read.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by Justice Tukur Mu’azu in the sum of N1 million each and sureties in like sum, who must be grade level 14 public servants.
The case was adjourned to January 29, 2015 for commencement of trial.
