by S’ola Filani

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, arraigned the Taraba State Accountant–General before the Jalingo Federal High Court, for allegedly defrauding Taraba State Government of N1.56 billion.

The accused, Joel Joseph Lenbang, was arraigned on 8 counts of fraud, including  “obtaining by false pretence,” PM News reports.

Lenbang has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The illegal activities that he allegedly engaged in were said to be first discovered after a concerned indigene of Taraba State accused him of “massive looting” of the state’s funds.

Investigations reportedly revealed a “systematic withdrawal of state funds” masterminded by the accused. 

According to reports, “withdrawals were allegedly made under the guise that such monies were used for sundry payments on behalf of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), as well as payment of Bank Commissions on Turn over (COT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) which became a monthly affair.”

A total sum of N1,567,226,557.081 (one billion, five hundred and sixty seven million, two hundred and twenty six thousand, five hundred and fifty seven naira, eighty one kobo) was discovered to have been looted from the state treasury between January 2012 and December 2013.

As a result of the no guilty plea of the accused, prosecuting counsel, Al Qasim Ja’afar, applied for a date to commence trial.

Justice Okorowo adjourned the case till 11 July 2014 for hearing of the bail application and remanded the accused in prison custody.