Adamawa education secretary, others remand in prison for diverting UNICEF bags

The Education Secretary of Mubi South LGA of Adamawa State, Jibrilla Babale, and four others have been remanded by Yola Criminal Area Court II for allegedly diverting 800 bags of the United Nations Children’s Education Fund meant for the public schools in Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs.

Those remanded in prison alongside the Education Secretary on Monday include the UNICEF Co-ordinator in-charge of distribution for Mubi South and North LGAs, Mustapha Mohammed, Musa Mahmud, Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya.

Representatives of UNICEF, who were worried by the indiscriminate sale of the UNICEF branded school bags, in open markets meant to be given to pupils as part of a school enrolment drive, reportedly made the complaints to the state governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who then ordered discreet investigations into the scandal.

Governor Fintiri, ordered the prosecution and disciplinary action to be taken on any civil servants involved in the alleged racketeering of UNICEF school bags.

It was while on the trail of the culprits that, it was uncovered that Jibrilla, the education secretary, who heads the distribution of the schoolbags was found to have allegedly diverted 800 pieces of the school, to his cronies who allegedly sold the bags for N700,000.
According to the police first information report, the ES diverted 800 bags and gave them to the UNICEF Distribution Co-ordinator, Mustapha Mohammed, who in turn converted and sold some to Musa Mahmud of Mubi North at the sum of N330, 000, only.

Likewise, Musa Mahmud, later sold the bags to Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya of Mubi North respectively at the sum of N420, 000, while knowing fully well that the bags were provided to be distributed free of charge and not to be sold.
Jibrilla and four other accomplices were charged to court by the Commissioner Police, Mohammed Barde, for criminal conspiracy, breach of official trust, and receiving stolen property which contravened sections 60, 302, 307, and 312 of the penal code law, 2018 as amended.

Though the four accused have denied the charges, while their counsel pleaded they be admitted to bail, Justice Nuhu Garta, however, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to November 1, 2021, for commencement of the hearing.

He said the bail application will be considered before the date.

Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri born (October 27, 1967) is a Nigerian politician who is the current Governor of Adamawa State. He was a member of the Adamawa State House of Assembly and was appointed the Speaker of the House.