The trial of the Gombe State former Governor Senator Mohammad Danjuma Goje continued today before Justice B Quadri at the Federal High Court, Jos where two witnesses testified as PW 13 and PW 14.
It would be recalled that the case was adjourned to today, June 21, 2017, when PW13, Director Legal Services, Gombe State House of Assembly, Barrister Rukaiyatu Adamu Jalo, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, informed the court that from the documents tendered through her, there was no place where N1b facility loan, CBN Agricultural Credit Scheme or N830m SUBEB equity contribution funds were budgeted or mention in Gombe State Appropriation Act from 2007 to 2011.
When a resolution from the state house of Assembly authorizing the then Governor of the state, Danjuma Goje, to acquire the facility from Access Bank was shown to her, she stated that there was no such record from the State Assembly.
She further said for any project to be execute, it has to go through Appropriation Act, if not it has to be through Supplementary in order to have a legal effects. “Therefore the amount mentioned above has no legal backing of Appropriation Act”, she explained.
The PW14, Ahmed Garba Gombe, the Acting Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Gombe State Ministry of Education, in his testimony, stated that the contract to supply 700,000 copies of Dictionaries for Gombe State Primary Schools and 700,000 copies of Dictionaries to Gombe State Junior Secondary Schools was awarded to Real Integrated Company after it was advertised in National Dailies. The term of payment stated in the contract was 15% mobilization fee, 35% after performing, another 35% again then 15% final payment after the execution of the contract.
But in the course of executing the contract, 85% payment was made to the contractor which is against the term stated on the contract. The witnesses were cross examined by the defence counsel Paul Irokoro SAN.
The case was adjourned to Tuesday, 26th and 27th September, 2017 for continuation of trial.
