Ex-Gombe governor’s cousin paid N1.4b to supply food – EFCC

A prosecution witness, Saliu Sambo, a Director of Administration and Finance in the state, gave evidence on details of food supply from 2003 to 2011 during Goje’s administration. Goje is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. Led in evidence by EFCC’s lawyer, Wahab Shittu, Sambo said the food contractor was the former governor’s cousin. According to him, N1,451,682,518.6 was paid to the contractor between 2003 and 2011. Another witness, Mohammed Balbaya, a cashier at the Government House, confirmed that the food contractor was paid N1,451,682,518.6 between 2003 and 2011. Balbaya said he prepared the cheques based on approval from the Accountant-General and handed them to the contractor. Another witness, an Assistant Director of Finance and Account, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), tendered a certified true copy of Federal Government’s Approved Guidelines for Accessing and Utilisation of the UBE Intervention Fund, issued in March 2006. He also tendered a copy of Federal Ministry of Education Circular of September 9, 2008 and signed by Goke Adegboroye, titled: Re: Review of the disbursement formula of the Federal Government’s two per cent of Consolidated Revenue Fund as Intervention to the UBE Programme. The witness informed the court that as the Assistant Director of Finance, he was in charge of disbursement of funds to states. Adegboroye said the supply of dictionaries, allegedly done under the Goje administration, was not covered by the guidelines. He added that under the guidelines, a state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) cannot supply dictionaries as that would amount to over-stepping it bounds. According to the witness, the provisions/paragraphs of the guidelines are sacrosanct and inviolable, adding that not even UBEC can waive the conditions.]]>