Timipre Sylva, Former Governor of Bayelsa State, on Monday took fresh plea over a six-count criminal charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Sylva is facing trial over allegations that he masterminded the illegal diversion of funds from the Bayelsa State treasury during his administration.
The former governor was accused of siphoning over N6.5billion from the State’s treasury between October 2009 and February 2010.
The anti-graft agency had earlier identified three persons whose Bank accounts were used for illegal transfer of funds, which according to the EFCC, Sylva secured through loan from Union Bank Plc in the name of the Bayelsa State government.
The named accomplices include Habibu Sani Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with Account No. 221433478108, in Fin Bank Plc; Enson Benmer Limited with Account No. 6152030001946, in First Bank, Plc and one John Daukoru with Account No. 04800250000418, in United Bank for Africa Plc.
Sylva’s prosecution commenced afresh after Adamu Bello, the former trial Judge in the matter the retired. He was previously arraigned before the court on June 5, 2012 and pleaded not guilty to all the six-count charge against him.
WhatsApp us