The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has docked a school supervisor with the Local Education Authority, Lamurde Local Government Area, Lamurde, Adamawa state. The suspect, Japhet N. Dadiya, was arraigned at an Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola before Justice Lawal Audu Lagre for offences bordering on criminal breach of trust and fraudulent diversion of funds amounting to about N3,848,678 (Three million, eight hundred and forty eight thousand, six hundred and seventy eight naira)
Japhet N. Dadiya, male, 41 a former Secretary, Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Lamurde, Adamawa state, was petitioned by Intercontinental Bank Plc, at the EFCC Gombe zonal office on February 3rd, 2009. The bank alleged that on February 15th, 2007, the NUT of Lamurde Local Government Area, Adamawa was availed a loan facility to the tune of N23,200,000 through a vendor, Yerima Kida Company for the purchase of motorcycles and household items for its members.
According to the bank, the union remitted N16,980,000 (sixteen million, nine hundred eighty thousand naira) only, leaving a balance of N6,220,000 which was diverted into the personal pockets of the officials of the union and management of the Local Government Education Authority. The Commission had been able to recover about N2,471,322 , leaving a balance of N3,848,678 which was traced to Japhet Dadiya.
Japhet, as a former secretary of the union, received the said amount from beneficiaries and diverted same for his personal use. He admitted expending the said N3,848,678 that came through him to run his personal business. He said he used the money to set up a film- viewing center in Lamurde, built a 2 bedroom flat, bought a Toyota Starlet car, an electric plant, a soft drink and pure water business. All efforts made to get Japheth to refund the money proved abortive.
When the accused was called to the dock, there was no lawyer representing him. He pleaded with the court to give an extension of time to enable his counsel who he claimed was on his way to the court from Jalingo in Taraba State arrive. The judge obliged him as counsel for prosecution, Abubakar Aliyu raised no objections and the court adjourned for one hour.
On resumption after the over one hour granted him, the lawyer was still not in court. Dramatically, one Barrister Bristin stood up and introduced himself as counsel to the accused, that he had been contacted to hold brief for the original counsel. When asked the name of the counsel he said he was not fully briefed as he hurried to meet up with the court. After hearing from both prosecution and defence counsel, the judge asked the accused to take his plea afterwhich a one – count charge of criminal breach of trust was read to him . He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Counsel to the accused person moved for oral bail application which was opposed by prosecution counsel. Thereafter, the EFCC counsel applied for adjournment to call witnesses for the commencement of trial while asking the court to remand the accused person in prison custody pending the determination of the substantive suit .
The judge, Justice Lawal Lagre, adjourned the case till July 13th , 2011 for hearing of the bail application, while asking the suspect to be remanded in Yola Prison.