Witnesses Storm Court to Attest to Goje’s Financial Prudence

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

A prosecution witness (PW12) and former Accountant General of Gombe state, Mr. Mohammed Tukur yesterday told Jos Federal High Court II that Senator Danjuma Goje was a man of financial prudence who was the first to introduce due process in the state.

Tukur told the court presided over by Justice Babatunde Quadiri during a cross examination by the defense counsel, Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) that Goje proved himself as a good leader.

He said: “Danjuma Goje was the first person to introduce due process and guidelines in Gombe State and throughout his tenure he never breached any. He is a man of financial prudence and good leader.”

Another witness (PW13), Mrs. Rukayatu Jallo, legal officer of Gombe House of Assembly also said, “Now that I have seen the sections in the budgets, I agree that the issue of loan facilities both external and internal were included in all the budgets, especially that of 2011 where the governor was entitled to a loan facility of N15 billion.’’
Also, Mr. Ahmed Garba, former Gombe State Director of Research and Planning, told the court that the award of contract for the supply of dictionaries SUBEC followed due process.

Former Clerk of the House of Assembly, Mr. Musa Atiku, who had earlier told the court that the he did not sign the resolution for the N5 billion Access Bank loan facilities, later acknowledged during cross examination that he did.
Erokoro had put it to him that he received a letter from the bank informing him of its readiness to grant the loan based on the resolution but he did not object by way of writing and he answered, ‘yes I didn’t object.’

Goje, the immediate past former governor of the state, has been facing an 18-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering since 2012.

He is being tried alongside Alhaji Aliyu El-Nafarty, former Chairman, Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Sambo Tumu, his cousin, who was contracted to supply food to the Government House, and one S.M. Dakoro, a businessman.

According to the EFCC, the quartet conspired to defraud the state of about N25 billion via illegal acts, contrary to, and punishable under sections 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2011 as amended.