Feb. 17, 2022

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday re-arraigned one Labaran Tanko before Justice Hassan Babangida of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Jabi, Abuja on a five count amended charge bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N46m.

In a statement by the EFCC on Thursday, count one of the charge reads, “That you LABARAN TANKO sometime between July 2013 and July 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court while being the State Coordinator of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Nasarawa Zonal Office and in such capacity entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit, 22,257( Twenty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven ) units of e- facility cards of the Joint Admission & Matriculation Board ( JAMB) committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said properties when you disposed of the cards without duly rendering accounts of the disposal to JAMB and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Law.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho informed the court of an existing bail earlier granted the defendant, while requesting for a date for the commencement of trial.

Justice Babangida granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10m and a surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 12 or above and be resident in Abuja.

The defendant was initially arraigned before Justice Olasunbo Goodluck who has been elevated to the Court of Appeal.