NULGE Leaders Jailed For Breach Of Trust

Two former union leaders of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Maigari Bello Ibrahim and Comrade Sani A. Mazang, have been jailed by Justice Filibus Andetur of the Taraba State High Court for alleged breach of trust and defrauding their union.

Comrades Maigari Bello Ibrahim and Sani A Mazang, former NULGE branch chairman and assistant secretary respectively of Yorro Local Government Area of Taraba State were sentenced to nine years imprisonment for conspiracy and criminal breach of trust contrary to sections 97 and 315 of the Penal Code.

A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Wilson Uwujaren stated that the convict were first arraigned on July 27, 2011.

The EFCC spokesperson said “the two union leaders arrested and subsequent arraignment by EFCC was sequel to a petition by a new generation bank which they allegedly defrauded to the tune of N14.56m.

The statement said “the bank sometime in 2007 allegedly offered the union a loan facility to purchase motorcycles for its members with the agreement that the facility would be repaid through monthly, deductions from the beneficiaries salaries for a period of 18 months, and the deducted sum remitted  to the bank.

“At the expiration of the repayment period, the bank discovered that the accused persons had used their official positions to divert some of the deduction to their personal use.

“In his ruling, Justice Filibus Andetur held that the two accused persons erred in their duties as responsible officials of the union by misappropriating funds held in trust.”

“The Judge, therefore, found them guilty as charged.”

The EFCC’s statement further said “although counsel to the accused persons Hadi Nguroje Esq pleaded for  mercy on their behalf, Abubakar Aliyu, prosecution counsel urged the court to do justice as the law demands.

“In sentencing the accused persons Justice Andetur said he had taken cognisance of the plea and position of the law.

“He therefore sentenced the accused union leaders to 2 years each on the 1st count and 7 years on count 2 respectively.

“Alternatively they are to pay a fine of N25,000 and N50,000 on counts1 and 2 respectively.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Labour Congress has called on Taraba State government to lift the ban on employment to save the state civil service from collapse.

The NLC chairman, Taraba State Council, Comrade Mark Ishaku stated this at a stakeholders workshop on grassroots peace and industrial harmony organised by the NLC in Jalingo.

Comrade Ishaku said the union would continue to tread the path of industrial harmony with government in spite of the vexed issues on the ban and minimum wage.

The Tide learnt that there had been five-year embargo on employment into the state civil service which had paralysed the effective administration of the civil service in the state.