War Against Corruption: EX-Adamawa NBA Chair, Court Registrar Arraigned

In a renewed battle against corruption in every sphere in the country, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Sheu Mustapha and Barrister Binanu R. Esthon on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of N60million (sixty million Naira). While Shehu Mustapha is the Registrar Litigation of the Adamawa State High Court, Barrister Binanu R. Esthon, was the former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Yola Chapter. The two accused were arraigned before Justice B.B Aliyu of Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State. Trouble started for the duo when the EFCC received petition that the accused persons were involved in criminal conspiracy. Thereafter, a prima facie case was established against them. A press release by the EFCC reads in part; “A group of staff numbering five hundred and one were disengaged from Stirling Civil Engineering Company Limited, but had their entitlements withheld by the Company. The disengaged staff, through the former NBA boss, Esthon instituted an action against their employer (Stirling Civil Engineering Company Limited) at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola, and had the judgment entered in their favour.  Esthon, in connivance with Mustapha, the registrar of the court, diverted part of the funds meant for the settlement of their entitlements to personal use.” Count one of the charges against the accused standing trial reads: “That you, Shehu Mustapha sometime between 2007-2009 at Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud, did obtained money, the sum of N59, 995,000.00 from Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar being the proceeds recovered from the auction executed against the properties of Stirling Civil Engineering Company Limited as judgment debtor delivered by Adamawa State High Court in suit No.ADSY/60M/2007 under the false pretence that the said sum was to be utilized in settling the judgment creditors which you never did instead diverted the said sum to your personal use, thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 2 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act LFN 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them. The case started when an anonymous petition was received by the EFCC in which Aroke, 25, was actively involved in an internet scam. After the EFCC’s investigation of the crime, it was revealed that the convicted Aroke has been involved in internet scam which had earned him a total sum of 4,000 Riaait (Malaysian currency). Two luxurious cars were impounded from Aroke by the EFCC after his arrest.