arraigned the Taraba State Accountant – General, Joel
Joseph Lenbang, before Justice Donatus Nwabueze
Okorowo of the Federal High Court Jalingo for defrauding
Taraba State Government to the tune of N1.56 billion. He
was docked on an 8-count charge bordering on obtaining
by false pretense, offenses contrary to and punishable
under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences
Act, 2006.
When the charges were read to him, the accused person
pleaded not guilty.
The malfeasance came to light following a petition received
from a concerned Taraba State indigene, sometime in
February 2014, alleging massive looting of Taraba state
funds. The petition triggered investigation of the lifestyle of
some of the officers mentioned in the petition and who
were believed to be living above their means.
The investigation uncovered systematic withdrawal of state
funds through a scheme mastermind by the accountant -
general of the State, Joel Lengbang. Withdrawals were
allegedly made under the guise that such monies were
used for sundry payments on behalf of ministries,
departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as payment of
Bank Commissions on Turn over (COT) and Value Added
Tax (VAT) which became a monthly affair. A total sum of
N1,567,226,557.081 (one billion, five hundred and sixty
seven million, two hundred and twenty six thousand, five
hundred and fifty seven naira, eighty one kobo) was
discovered to have been looted from the state treasury
between January 2012 and December 2013.
In view of the plea of the accused, prosecuting counsel, Al
Qasim Ja'afar applied for a date to commence trial. Counsel
to accused, Abayomi Akamode, however, informed the
court that he had filed a motion for bail this morning and
urged the court hear it. But Al Qasim told the court that he
was just served the motion on notice in court and would
need time to peruse and respond appropriately.
Justice Okorowo adjourned the case till July 11, 2014 for
hearing of the bail application and remanded the accused
in prison custody.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
9th July, 2019
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