The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arraigned a former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly representing Pengana Constituency, Michael Jibrin Apese; his brother, Akatin Jibrin; and their company, Pharmaceutical Stores and Super Market Nigeria Limited, before Justice Yakubu G. Dakwak of the Plateau State High Court on a four-count charge of conspiracy and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N7.3 million.
Having pleaded not guilty to the charge when read to them, prosecution counsel, Ndifon Takon Neji, urged the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.
Neji stated that the EFCC was ready to prosecute the case but prayed that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.
But defence counsel, Moses Dalhatu, told the court he had filed a bail application for the accused persons supported by a 27 paragraph affidavit to which the prosecution had replied.
The judge, after listening to the argument of both parties, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 each and one surety in like sum.
The surety must own a landed property with Certificate of Occupancy in Jos metropolis in Plateau State.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Hon.(Dr) Michael Jubril Apese, Akatin Jibrin and Pharmaceutical Stores and Super Market Nigeria Limited, between June and August 2008 in Jos within the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Plateau State, being entrusted with dominion over certain property, to wit: the sum of N7,334,828 ( Seven Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty Eight Naira) meant for Constituency Project, committed Criminal breach of trust which the sum was dishonestly converted to your own use in violation of the law thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau state.”
The case has been adjourned to March 15, 2013 for hearing.
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