Former Acting Governor Danladi, Two Others Arraigned for Conspiracy and Money Laundering
Three frontline politicians in Taraba State were today arraigned before Federal High Court Jalingo division for conspiracy and money laundering.
They are Abubakar Sani Danladi a former Acting Governor of the State, Senator and former minister of works, Joel Ikenya and Hon. Mark Useni, a former speaker and serving member of the State House of Assembly.
At the session where the case was mentioned, only Useni and Ikenya were present in court as Sani was absent.
Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ahmed Muntaka who spoke to journalists said Sani could not be reached with the summons for the trial.
The three men are standing trial for conspiracy and money laundering of about Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira.
According to a source, the non-service of summons on Sani was not an error but part of a strategy to give him a soft landing as he is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2019 elections in the State.
The case, according to the source would be deliberately frustrated to ensure that it does not constitute an impediment to the gubernatorial contest in the state in 2019.
Mark Useni is the only member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the group.
The case has been adjourned to December 5, 2018, for mention.