Ex-envoy charged with fraud
2009-11-25 10:12
-
Nigeria
How Ethnic Rivalry and Religious Fundamentalism Threatens Africa's Most Populous Nation
Was R342.95
Now R308.66
buy now
Lagos - Nigeria's former ambassador to Spain has been charged with allegedly misappropriating about $2m, an anti-graft agency EFCC said on Tuesday.
Yusuf Mamman, ambassador to Spain between 1991 and 1993, was on Monday at a high court near Abuja charged with "dishonestly misappropriating about 300 million naira", the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in the statement.
The money belonged to state-run Aso Radio and Television in Abuja, whose management board he headed, the statement said.
Three others charged with conspiring with Mamman to commit the crime in February were Ahmed Ishaq, Ahmed Tafida and Sani Ja'afaru, all members of the board, it said.
The board, which was inaugurated early last year, was suspended by the government recently to allow investigations into the alleged fraud.
Mamman, a former student leader, had in the 1980s served as spokesperson of military vice president Augustus Aikhomu.
All four accused pleaded not guilty to the nine-count charge, EFCC said.
The court granted them bail in the sum of five million naira each and adjourned a further hearing until February 4, the statement said.
- SAPA
