Adamawa’s Ex-Gov. Bala Ngilari, Bags Five Years Imprisonment

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By Tom Garba, Yola – A Yola based High court presided over by Justice Nathan Musa has sentenced former Governor of Adamawa state, Barr. Bala James Ngilari to five year’s imprisonment without an option or fine.

Bala, was convicted by the court for illegally procuring 25 units operational vehicles (Toyota Hilux)  for his former Commissioners at the cost of about 167,812,500 while  he was a Governor of the State from 2014-2015 without  following Procurement process of Bureau for public procurement,a statutory body established by laws of Adamawa state to vet contracts.

The convict, was dragged to Yola High court by operatives of the Economic and Financial crimes commission (EFCC) through a complain by state authorities over such violation of the procurement process in a contract he awarded to a private firm, “AL-YADIM LIMITED” for the purchased of the 25 vehicles.

However  the court discharged and acquitted his former secretary to the state Government Mr Ibrahim Andrew Welye and Finance Comisioner, Mr Jonathan Sanda Lamurde as they acted in the illegal Procurement process based on directives by the former Boss.

Justice Nathan Musa, In a two hour judgement asserted that though the convict, former Governor Bala Ngilari has a procurement entity as backed by law, he did not subject the Procurement of the 25 vehicles through the ministerial tenders Board of the ministry of finance and budget, and the contractor EL-YADIM LIMITED has no any bank guarantee as well as performance bond as enshrined in the 2013 laws of the BPP of Adamawa State nor obtain any waiver from the bureau.

The judge added that the convict jettisoned the Procurement procedure to a law that was signed by a Governor in 2013 when he was a Deputy Governor.

After involving some relevant sections of the law, Justice Musa sentence former Governor Bala James Ngilari to 5years imprisonments without option or fine.

Bala, in an emotional comment to our correspondent said he has given glory  to God for everything that come across him.

However the Attorney General of the Adamawa state, Barrister Bala Sanga said though the victory of the state is of sympathy, the judgement would serve as a detriment to other Governors and political office holders.

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