Yola Criminal Area Court II has remanded an Education Secretary of Mubi South Local Government Area, Jibrilla Babale, and 4 others for allegedly diverting 800 bags of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) meant for public schools in Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs.

Those remanded in prison custody along side the Education Secretary on Monday include; the UNICEF Co-ordinator of Distribution for Mubi South and North LGAs, Mustaspha Mohammed as well as Musa Mahmud, Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya.

Jibrilla and 4 other defendants were charged to court by the Commissioner Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, for criminal conspiracy, breach of official trust and receiving stolen property which contravened sections 60, 302, 307 and 312 of the penal code law, 2018 as amended.

Earlier, CP Barde, who was represented by Inspector Boyom Alex, told the court that a team of operatives attached to State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Yola, led by Abraham Adamu, who acted on tip off, apprehended the suspects in connection to the alleged crime on the 14th and 16th, October, 2021, respectively.

Jibrilla, who was said to have been officially entrusted with UNICEF school bags to be distributed to pupils in public schools free of charge, allegedly diverted 800 pieces for his personal use.

According to the prosecutor, the ES diverted 800 bags and gave it to the UNICEF Distribution Co-ordinator, Mustapha Mohammed, who in turn converted and sold some to Musa Mahmud of Mubi North at the sum of N330, 000, only.

Likewise, Musa Mahmud, later sold the bags to Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya of Mubi North respectively at the sum of N420, 000, while knowing fully well that the bags were provided to distributed free of charge and not to be sold.

But when the First Information Report (FIR) was read and explained to them as applied by Inspector Boyom Alex, all the defendants responded in the negative that the police report was not true.

It was at this juncture that Counsel to all the defendants, T. U. Danjuma, prayed the court to admit all his clients to bail, saying that the defendants have given assurances that they will neither jump bail nor interfere into the ongoing investigation.

Danjuma, told the court that his clients have reasoble and credible sureties to bail them, and that they will always appear in court to stand their trial, pleading with court to use its discretion and admit them to bail.

While responding, Inspector Boyom, vehemently objected to the application filed by the defence counsel, saying that their operatives are out there to get others arrested, and that granting them at this material time will jeopardise their effort.

Ruling, the presiding the Judge, Hon. Musa Nuhu Garta, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to 1st November, 2021, for commencement of hearing, saying that bail application will be considered before the date.

After the sitting, the ES who was arraigned in court wearing complete white agbada, hid himself in the dock of the court where changed his clothes for comfortability in the prison custody.