Sharia advocate, Sen. Yerima, ex-Zamfara gov in trouble for N1bn fraud; ICPC drags him to court

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday arraigned former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Yerima, at a Gusau High Court for alleged misappropriation of over N1 billion during his tenure in 2006.
Yerima is standing trial on a 19-count charge of alleged misappropriation of the fund. ICPC’s lawyer, Mashkur Salisu, said the money was a bank loan meant for the repair of collapsed Gusau Dam and payment of compensation to victims affected by the tragedy. Salisu alleged that Yerima diverted the money to other purposes.
The offence, he said, is contrary to and punishable under Section 25 (1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. Also charged with Yerima was Hashim Dikko, and two companies, Development Management Ltd. and HAD Nig Ltd. They were accused of misapplication and overshooting of contract sum for the supply of assorted grains to the Federal Government valued at N200million. All the accused pleaded not guilty.
Mahmoud Abubakar, who led eight other defence lawyers, pleaded with the court to grant them bail on self-recognition, assuring that they would not jump bail. Justice Bello Shinkafi granted bail to each of the accused persons for N100 million and two sureties in like sum.
Shinkafi ruled that the sureties must own landed property worth N150 million, while one of them must be resident in Gusau and adjourned the case to February 29 and March 1, for hearing.
Speaking to reporters after the court session, Yerima alleged that the case was instituted against him by his “political enemies’’, adding: “we will use politics to fight back”.
Yerima is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Zamfara State in the Senate. He was the first governor in Nigeria to implement Sharia in his state in its full entirety, a move that sparked negative reactions especially from Christians in the country.