Former Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdul Bulama, and four others have been ordered by Justice Fadima Aminu of the Federal High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State, to present their defense in a N450 million fraud case filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
After considering a no-case submission made by the defendants, Justice Aminu concluded that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence through witness testimonies and exhibits to establish a prima facie case against the defendants, thus requiring them to present their defense. The court has scheduled the proceedings for October 19-20, 2023.
Dr. Abdul Bulama, along with Hon. Mohammed Kadai (a former Commissioner for Integrated and Rural Development in Yobe State), Abba Gana Tata, Muhammad Mamu, and Hassan Ibn Jaks, faces charges of criminal conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N450 million.
The charges allege that Bulama, who served as the Coordinator of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 re-election Campaign Committee in Yobe State, and Kadai, his Deputy, conspired with the other defendants to receive the aforementioned sum with the intention of influencing the outcome of the 2015 Presidential election.
When re-arraigned on November 8, 2021, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial commenced. During the proceedings, the prosecution, represented by counsel Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, presented five witnesses and submitted various documents as evidence before resting its case.
Instead of presenting their defense, the defendants chose to submit a no-case motion, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
