Ex-Adamawa varsity VC arraigned for alleged N145million fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a former Vice Chancellor of Adamawa State University, Professor Shall Joshua, for allegedly misappropriating N145million belonging to the institution.

The former vice-chancellor was not alone in the dock. The university’s bursar, Kumthi Anjili, and cashier, Philip Pwana, were also arraigned for the same offence.

The suspects appeared before Justice B.B Aliyu of the Federal High Court Yola, Adamawa State, on July 17, on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, abuse of office and diversion of public funds.

The petitioners, Luka Monduva and three others alleged that the accused persons stole about N25million from Zenith Bank account number 1010991218 belonging to the Adamawa State University.

The bursar, Mr. Kumthi, also allegedly forged the signature of the current vice chancellor of the university, Moses Zaruwa on Zenith Bank cheques and defrauded the school of about N72million.

On his part, Prof. Shall allegedly defrauded the institution of about N50million on the false pretence that the said amount was allocated for security votes and for the sponsorship of a trip for a TETFUND delegation from the school to Abuja.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Al’ Qasim Ja’Afar, asked for a trial date while the defence counsel, A. Atahir, moved a motion for bail for the accused.

The prosecution opposed the motion but the court granted it, admitting the three accused persons to bail in the sum of N20m each and two sureties each with N10m bond.

The sureties must live within the jurisdiction and must be verified by the EFCC, the court said.

The court adjourned the matter to October 17,18 and 19 for trial.