ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Thursday arraign a former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, in connection with the ongoing probe of a N1.9bn fraud.
A source within the anti-graft agency told Sundiata Post that Fintiri would be arraigned before Justice AR Mohammed of the Federal High Court on a five-count charge.
“EFCC to Arraign Fintiri ex-Adamawa gov, June 30 on five counts of bribery and money laundering before Justice A R Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja,” the source said.
The former governor, who has been under the EFCC custody for two weeks, is being accused of the abuse of office and corruption during his short reign as the governor of Adamawa State.
Fintiri was the speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly before he became the acting governor in July 2014 following the impeachment of former Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari.
The Commission’s sources had alleged that the administration of Fintiri awarded two road contracts including a N1billion work for Yola township road and another N1.9billion for road project in Mararaba Garta, which was ravaged by Boko Haram.
The source said: “Investigation so far revealed that Fintiri took a loan from a bank to set up a tea farm on Mambilla Plateau. But when he allegedly got the $3.8million, he diverted it to offset the loan,” .
“Fintiri was being made to answer questions on how Adamawa State’s debt profile rose from N8.7bn to N13.85bn within four months that he was acting governor.”