The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Tuesday, February 9, 2010, filed an amended 28 count charge against former governor of Adamawa state, Boni Haruna and two others.

The suspects who were arraigned before Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside Haruna are Mohammed Inuwa Bassi and John Babani Elias. The third accused, Elias is to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC, till February 12, 2010 while the former Adamawa governor as well as  Bassi will remain on the initial bail granted by the court.

The EFCC had filed an amended 28 count charge against the trio for corruptly enriching themselves while Haruna was governor of Adamawa state between 1999 and 2007. An initial eight count charge had been filed against Haruna and others when they were first arraigned in 2008.

At the resumed hearing Tuesday, counsel to the three accused persons, Barrister Regina Okotiebo prayed the court to grant bail to the third accused person, John Babani Elias, who was just being arraigned today for the first time.

She further explained that motion for bail of the 3^rd accused person dated January 19, and filed January 25, 2010, had been served on the prosecution.

But the prosecution counsel, Barrister Chile Okoroma, objected to the motion as he said he had just taken over the case and not aware of any counter affidavit that was expected to be filed. He went further to say he was not aware of the application for bail for the third accused .

The presiding judge, Justice Bello, after listening to the arguments ordered that the third accused who had evaded arrest and prosecution when the accused were first arraigned in 2008, be remanded in EFCC custody till the next adjourned date.

Among the 28 count charge that Haruna and co are being prosecuted are: “That you Boni Haruna on or about the 2^nd day of December, 2002 at Yola within the jurisdiction of the federal High Court did make a forged Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, cheque no.0348507 dated 2/12/2002 in the sum of N18,050,000.00 drawn on account number no. 3406139110, to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by you, Boni Haruna, in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi, knowing it to be false and there by committed an offence contrary to section 3 ( 2 ) ( c ) of the miscellaneous offences Act, Cap 410 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended by the Tribunals ( certain consequential Amendments, etc), Decree no 62 of 1999 and punishable under section 3 ( 2 ) of the same Act.

“That you Boni Haruna on or about the 13^th day of November, 2002 at Yola within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court fraudulently uttered a Guaranty  Trust Bank Plc, Cheque no.0348501 dated 13/11/2002 in the sum of N 10,000,000.00 drawn on account number no 3613406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by you, Boni Haruna, in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi Plc, with intent that the said cheque may be acted as genuine and thereby committed an offence Act, Cap 410 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended by the Tribunals ( certain consequential Amendments, etc) Decree no 62 of 1999 and punishable under Section 3 (2) of the same Act.

“That you Boni Haruna on or about the 12^th day of March, 2003 at Yola within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court fraudulently uttered a Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, cheque no. 3049628 dated 12/3/2003 in the sum of N16,125,000.00 drawn on account number no, 361 3406139110 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, operated by you, Boni Haruna, in the name of Mohammed Inuwa Bassi with intent that the said cheque maybe acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 (2) (a) of Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap 410 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended by the Tribunals (certain Consequential Amendments, etc), Decree no. 62 of 1999 and punishable under Section 3 (2) of the same Act.”