Former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has made a shocking revelation how a former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje, illegally awarded a N1bn contract for the supply of dictionaries to secondary schools while he was governor of the state.
The revelation was made by prosecution witness, Salisu Abaji before a Federal High Court in Jos where Goje is being tried for alleged fraud.
Giving evidence in court, the witness said that the ex-governor awarded a contract for the supply of dictionaries for over N1bn to Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board without following procurement process. Abaji further revealed that Goje paid 85 per cent of the contract sum upfront to the supplier, Real and Integrated Hospitality Company, as against the prescribed 15 per cent as contained in the UBEB guideline when he was the governor.
Abaji, who is a former Secretary to UBEB, gave this testimony against his former boss, revealed that one Aliyu el-Naffty, a former UBEB chairman, also an accused person standing trial along with Goje, awarded the contract the same day and ordered the advance payment based on the directive of the ex-governor.
Also, Mr. Mohammed Aliyu another prosecution witness and a former storekeeper at the Gombe State Government House while testifying tendered receipts of all payments made to the food contractor to the government during the eight-year administration of Goje from 2003 and 2011.
The trial has been adjourned till October 4 and 5, 2016 by Justice Quadri.