FG withdraws N2.2b fraud charges against Saleh, others

The Federal Government yesterday withdrew the N2.2 billion fraud charges filed against the Chief Registrar of Supreme Court, Mr. Ahmed Gambo Saleh and two others before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

Saleh was to be arraigned alongside Mr. Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and Rilwanu Lawal before Justice Abba Bello Mohammed on a 9-count charge bordering on diversion of N2.2 billion public fund, criminal breach of trust and acceptance of gratification from Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN) contractors to the tune of N74.4 million.

They were billed for arraignment on November 4 last year but the exercise could not hold as one of the defendants, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif, was absent in court due to an undisclosed ailment.

At the resumed proceedings yesterday, counsel to the Federal Government, Mrs. Hajara Yusuf, told the court that she has been directed to withdraw the charges initially brought against all the defendants.

She failed to give reasons for the withdrawal of the charges. The presiding judge, Justice Abba-Bello Mohammed, immediately struck out the charges.