Former Commissioner for Health in Kano State, Abubakar Labaran, appeared before Justice Aisha Danlami of Kano State High Court,
over misappropriation of N47m on
Thursday.
The Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-corruption Commission
(PCACC) had preferred a three-count charge against the commissioner who
served under former Governor of Kano State, Rabi’u Kwankwaso.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, bordering
on Criminal Breach of Trust and violations of the Kano State Civil
Service rules.
The prosecuting counsel, Mahmoud Balarabe, told the court that the
defendant committed the offences while in office as the state
Commissioner for Health, in January 2014.
“The defendant allegedly mismanaged the sum of $294,300 equivalent to N47 million (then),” the prosecutor alleged.
The prosecutor said that the money was meant to pay utility bills and
allowances for Kano state students at the Al Mansoura University in
Egypt.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 123 and 315 of the
Penal Code and Section 24 of the Kano State Public Complaint and
Anti-Corruption Law, 2008.
However, counsel to the defendant, Nuraini Jimoh, filed a bail
application in line with Sections 36 of the 1999 Constitution and 340,
341 and 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The judge in his ruling granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must provide certificate of landed properties within the state.
Mrs. Danlami then adjourned the case till April 30 for hearing.