By Abiola Olawale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned Mr. Sulieman Garba Bulkwang, Director of Human Resources Management at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of fraud to the tune of N223 million.
The Director who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Friday, is currently facing prosecution on five distinct charges relating to alleged diversion of funds and money laundering, amounting to a staggering sum of N223,412,909 (Two Hundred and Twenty-three Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand Nine Hundred and Nine Kobo).
Count one of his charges reads: “That you Suleiman Garba Bulkwang, while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did counsel one Umaefulem Donatus Chibueze, the Managing Director of Cees Assist Resources and Brainstask Value Resources (consultants to REA) to transfer the sum of N138,123,969 (One Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million, One Hundred Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira) out of the sum of N279,330,000.00 (Two Hundred and Seventy-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) paid to the consultants by REA, when you knew that the said sum of N138,123,969.000000 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Count two reads, “That you Suleiman Garba Bulkwang while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) sometime in July 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly converted the sum of N45,000,000.00 (Forty-Five Million Naira) being part of the money cumulatively paid to the bank accounts of Dammy Gold Programme Ltd, World Class Business, Green Haven Company And De-Sam Rose – Base Ltd by consultants to REA when you know that the said sum of N45,000.000.00 constituted proceed of unlawful activity and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) (b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
However, Bulkwang pleaded not guilty to all the charges after they were read to him, and in the absence of defence counsel or prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional centre.
Justice Abdulmalik then announced that the case would be adjourned until February 3, 2024, when the court would hear the defendant’s bail application.
In the meantime, she ordered that Bulkwang be held at the Kuje Correctional Center.
It would be recalled that the management team of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have been facing heavy scrutiny over alleged fraud and diversion of public funds.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in March 2024, also suspended and replaced the management team of the agency headed by erstwhile Managing Director Salihijo Ahmad over alleged N1.2 billion fraud.
