N11.4bn Alleged Contract Scandal Unsettles Bauchi Judiciary

The Bauchi State Judiciary says it has begun investigations into alleged N11.4 billion fraudulent contractual agreements perpetrated by some court workers in the state.

The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Rabi Umar, stated this at a news conference on the sideline of the inauguration of 31 Commissioners for Oath of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal, on Tuesday in Bauchi.

Mrs Umar said the judiciary had began investigation of some staff of the High Court who engaged in fraudulent contractual relationships with various companies worth N11.4 billion, without the knowledge of the authorities.

She that the measure was imperative to check the decay in the judiciary.

“The recent directive I gave for the investigation was the instances some staff of the High Court entered into contractual relationship with various companies worth billions of Naira using forged stamp, letter-head paper of the office of the Chief Registrar and forms without our knowledge, authority or consent as follows:

“Daneejow N162,000,000 supplied 6,000 bags of rice; Nakuwa Nig. Enterprise N168,000,000 supplied 6,000 bags of rice; Anieco Global Synergy Ltd. N1,080,000,000 to supply 4,000 laptops.

“Kommy Foods and Braids LTD N2,200,000 to supply 1,800 bags of ric; Y.K. Priority N3,100,000,000 to supply 10,000 Lady’s motorcycles; Task Systems N1,100,000,000 to supply 500 units of laptops.

“Mabs Resources Ltd. N5,750,000,000 to supply Keke NAPEP 500 Units; Rockchuks Resources International Ltd. N56,000,000 to supply 1,800 bags of rice and Khusufah Nig. Ltd. N50,400,000 to supply 400 bags of rice.

“In an instance where the victims of the fraudulent activities complained directly to the EFCC, the staff were investigated and charged to court by the Commission and are currently standing trial.

“Another similar instance was about four months ago, where some staff of the High Court defrauded a company from Kaduna State using forged documents of the High Court of Bauchi State.

“The company petitioned them to the AIG Zone 12, Bauchi. They were investigated, charged to court by the police and subsequently remanded at the Correctional Service facility,” she said.

According to her, all the fraudulent contractual transactions are being entered into by the staff to defraud innocent people with full support and active connivance of their godfathers operating behind the scene and sharing in the proceeds of the fraud.

Mrs Umar said that there were some corrupt elements within the judiciary in the state who have had their personal forms, receipts and stamps, using their boys to deprive the state government of revenue and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

She said that the staff perpetrating these acts do so with the active connivance, support and encouragement of their godfathers who now resort to using religious sentiment to cause disharmony between the High Court and the Sharia Court of Appeal.

The judiciary, she said, had introduced new court forms with security features in line with modern trend obtainable in most states and jurisdictions to check the menace of corruption and revenue leakages.

“We have printed court forms with security features, such as affidavits, probate and other necessary forms, after we have observed with dismay some disgruntled elements among our staff have their personal forms, receipts and even stamps which they use and convert the money to their personal use, thereby depriving the government of revenue.

“The Chief Registrar and Chairman Board of Internal Revenue Service met and agreed on the modalities that a certain percentage will be paid to the High Court to defray the expenses of printing the security forms while bulk of the revenue will be remitted to the state government.

“After commencing the process, the revenue generated by the High Court in the months of November and December 2021, recorded significant improvement, all of which remitted to the account of the state government,” she said.

Mrs Umar expressed dismay over rumour being peddled by self seeking individuals to disrupt the noble course of sanitising the court of corrupt personnel.

“I was amazed when my good intention to move the state forward was twisted by some disgruntled elements with mischievous intention started spreading rumour and raising false alarm that I appointed a Chief Registrar who is a Christian to undermine the religion of Islam.”

Mrs Umar said that her religion enjoined her to be fair and just to all manner of people, irrespective of their belief, creed or tribe.