Court Acquits Two Former Taraba Council Chairmen and Finance Director of Fraud Charges

The Chief Judge of Taraba State and presiding judge of Court No. 1 in Jalingo, Justice Joel Agya, discharged and acquitted three former officials of the Sardauna Local Government Council on Friday. The judgment, issued in Charge No. TRSJ/19C/2020, found that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations of fraud beyond reasonable doubt.

The defendants were Dr. Jedua Ahmed Dawud, former Executive Chairman of the council; Oliver Wubon, former Caretaker Chairman; and Joseph Danladi John, former Director of Finance.

In June 2020, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), acting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, filed a six‑count charge against the defendants. The charges included criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust by public servants, forgery, and use of false documents.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in 2012 within the Sardauna Local Government Council to commit criminal breach of trust involving funds earmarked for capital projects. According to the prosecution, Dr. Jedua Ahmed and Danladi dishonestly misappropriated N27 million allocated for capital projects on or about 4 October 2012, and another N35 million on or about 1 June 2012. In a separate count, Wubon and Danladi were accused of dishonestly diverting N42 million intended for capital projects sometime in 2012.

The EFCC further alleged that Wubon and Danladi forged payment voucher No. 3 in the name of Alhaji Saidu Mohammed on or about 8 February 2012, with intent to commit fraud, and that they knowingly used the forged voucher as genuine.

During the proceedings, the defence counsel argued that the prosecution had not established a prima facie case and challenged the EFCC’s investigative report, contending that it relied heavily on statements from prosecution witnesses.

In his judgment, Justice Agya stated that the prosecution failed to substantiate the allegations of criminal conspiracy and fraud. He held that the conspiracy charge was unsustainable because the alleged offences were said to have been committed separately by the defendants. The judge first discharged and acquitted the second and third defendants on counts five and six, which involved forgery and use of false documents. He then discharged and acquitted all three defendants on counts one to four.

Defence counsel Dr. Ibrahim Effiong praised the court for what he described as a landmark judgment. EFCC counsel Mr. Stephen Okemini said he had learned a lot from the judgment and would study it before deciding on further action.

After the judgment, Wubon expressed his happiness, saying the decision had “loosened the rope on their neck.”