CRIMINAL PROSECUTION 09/04/2023
Court Discharges Ex-Kogi College Bursar Accused Of Embezzling N88m
A High Court of Kogi State sitting in Lokoja, has discharged and acquitted a former Bursar with Kogi State College of Education, (Technical) Kabba, Dr Usman Mohammed, accused of embezzling N88 million belonging to the institution.
Dr Mohammed (first Defendant) alongside Mr John Amobeda (second Defendant) was standing trial on six count charges including offences of conspiracy to commit criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, conspiracy to commit criminal misappropriation and criminal misappropriation punishable under Sections 97(2), 315, 322, 364 and 309 of the Kogi State penal code.
The trial Judge, Justice Esther Haruna, in her judgement, which was made available to journalists, held that in criminal trials, the burden always is on the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the prosecution has woefully failed to prove its case against the first and second defendants on each of the six count charges.
Reacting to the judgement, the former Bursar, Dr. Usman Mohammed, described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, stressing that, he should be reinstated back to Kogi State University, which was his the first place of the primary assignment before he was transferred to Kogi State College of Education (Technical) in Kabba.
Dr. Mohammed is also demanding for the payment of all his unpaid arrears of half of his salaries from October 2014 to September 2015 amounting to N3,366,076.32k and the payment of arrears of his full salaries from October 2015 to December 2015, amounting to N1,683,038.16k.
He is also requesting the Kogi State Government through the institution to pay him arrears of his leave bonuses for five years, amounting to N3,366,076.30.and also the release of his official vehicle.
It could be recalled that Dr. Mohammed was appointed Bursar of the Kogi State College of Education, (Technical) Kabba on 16th July 2010 for a tenure of five years.
He was served a notice of suspension from office vide a letter with Ref. No; KGSCOET/REG/PS/033/32 dated 23rd October 2014 purportedly suspending him from office over the allegation of embezzlement of N88 million.
