Money Laundering: “You Have A Case To Answer,” Court Tells Former Council Cashier

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna presided over by Justice Evelyn Anyadike on Thursday, October 30, 2014 threw out the no-case submission by a former cashier of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State Alhaji Aminu Ya’u, who is standing trial for money laundering .

When the prosecution closed its case in June, 2014 counsel to the accused person, Mr. Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN, made a no-case submission, contending that none of the prosecution witnesses or documents tendered linked the accused with the alleged offence.

But lead prosecuting counsel, M.S Abubakar argued that the evidence provided by the witnesses as well as the proof of evidence had established a prima facie case against the accused.

 The court in its ruling agreed with the prosecution and overruled the no-case submission by the accused.

The former council cashier was investigated in February, 2012 after an intelligence report  established that his lifestyle could not be supported by his known sources of income. Investigation subsequently revealed that he had been fraudulently re- adjusting  his monthly salary and paying himself a monthly wage of N388,613.50 (three hundred and eighty eight thousand six hundred and thirteen Naira fifty kobo) instead of N49,023.48(forty nine thousand and twenty three Naira forty eight kobo) which he was entitled to.

He is alleged to have built an Ultra Modern Mansion worth millions of Naira at Madaki Street, Opposite Teckon International School Gyellesu, Zaria; five bed room bungalows at Turaki Street Gyellesu, Zaria and a borehole drilling Company named Yuzafa Company in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Following the dismissal of the no case submission, the court ordered the accused to enter his defence while the case has been adjourned to December 3, 2014 for further hearing.

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Media & Publicity
31st October, 2014