Ex-Kaduna Governor Arraigned For Allegedly Collecting N700M To Rig Election

A former Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)on Monday for his involvement in the scandal surrounding the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The former governor was re-arraigned with Nuhu Somo Wya (a former minister), Ishaq Hamsa (a former Secretary to Kaduna State Government) and Abubakar Gaiya Haruna (a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kaduna.

They were all re-arraigned due to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice M.G Umar, from the state.

Ramalan Yero and others were alleged to have received a sum of N700 million from Diezani Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

At today’s sitting, the prosecution counsel, Nasiru Salele, told the Court that the case was for re-arraignment of the defendants and urged the court to ask them to take their pleas.

The charges were read to the defendants and they all pleaded ‘not guilty’.

The defence counsel, Yunus Ustaz Usman, then urged the court to extend to the defendants, the terms of the bail earlier granted them by the former judge.

The prosecution counsel, Nasiru Salele, appearing with M.E Eimonye and P.C Onyeneho, did not object to the application.

Justice Umar granted bail to the defendants on the same terms earlier offered them by the court.

The case was adjourned till 16th, 17th and 18th January, 2023, for trial.