EFCC arraigns ex-Taraba accountant general over 1.5bn fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arraigned former Accountant General of Taraba State, Joel Joseph Lebang before Federal High Court Jalingo over N1.5 billion fraud. He was arraigned on eight-count-charge for allegedly defrauding the Taraba state government to the tune of N1.5 billion between January 2012 and December 2013 while serving as the […]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arraigned former Accountant General of Taraba State, Joel Joseph Lebang before Federal High Court Jalingo over N1.5 billion fraud.
He was arraigned on eight-count-charge for allegedly defrauding the Taraba state government to the tune of N1.5 billion between January 2012 and December 2013 while serving as the Accountant General of the state.
On the first count charge, the EFCC told the court that the accused while serving as Accountant General of Taraba State masterminded the approval and withdraw of N139, 651, 118.49 from the purse of the state government under false pretense that the said amount was being utilized for payment of bank commission on turn over (COT) and Value added tax (VAT).
Counts two to eight alleged that between January 2012 and December 2013, the accused with the intent to defraud the state masterminded the approval and withdrawal of sums of N161,117,706.90, N176,913,511.61, N192,117,235.99, N194,697,368.64, N257,114,881.44, N188,499, 853.30 and N257,114,881.44 respectively from the purse of Taraba State government on false pretense.
EFCC Prosecutor, Al’qasim Ja’afar Esq. told the court that all the said sums were allegedly taken from the coffer of the Taraba State government with the approval of the accused person on false pretense that the monies were being utilized for various payments on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as payments for bank commissions on turn over (COT) and value added tax (VAT).
He said the accused committed offenses contrary to and punishable under Sections 1(2) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2006 respectively.
Details later…