The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 14, 2019 arraigned former Chief Maintenance Officer of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ganiyu Yunusa Deji, before Justice Jude Okeke of Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama, for offences bordering on receiving bribe to the tune of N2.5million.
While Deji was the Chief Maintenance Officer of NEMA, Mr Deji was in charge of fuel supply to the generators in the agency and was found to have received backhander to the tune of N2.5million from Rekinat Global Resources Limited which supplied fuel to NEMA. Part of the bribe, N1,707,000.00 (One Million, Seven Hundred and Seven Naira) was paid into Deji’s Diamond Bank account by Rekinat Global Resources Limited in one transaction.
Mr Deji was arraigned on a three-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty. One of the charges read: “that you Ganiyu Yunusa Deji whilst being employed in the public service and serving as the Chief Maintenance Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in charge of fuel supply, between August and December 2016, at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did commit an offence to wit , gratification, when you corruptly received the total sum of N1,707,000.00 through your personal Diamond Bank Plc account from Rekimat Global Resoiurce for yourself on accounts of contracts of supply of fuel awarded to Remit Global Resource by NEMA and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 8 (1)(b)(i) of the same Act.”
In view of his not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel, Adeola Olarenwaju, asked for date to commence trial and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison, pending determination of the matter.Defence counsel, Aduojo Aba, however, prayed the court to admit Deji on bail pending the determination of the matter. Aba told the court that it was in the interest of justice that bail be granted the defendant. Olarenwaju, opposed, stating that the prosecution was apprehensive that the defendant may jump bail and defeat the whole essence of trying to bring him to justice.
Justice Okeke in line with Section 165 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA 2015, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1million (One Million Naira) with one surety in like sum, who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and whose address is confirmed in writing by the Assistant Chief Registrar of the court. The surety must also depose to affidavit of means of living and present evidence of three years tax payment.
Deji was remanded in EFCC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions. The case was adjourned to April 15, 2019.
