A magistrates’ court in Minna, Niger State, has ordered the remand of a 51-year-old Shari’a Court Judge, Saidu Yusuf, and a Registrar, Ibrahim Bello (51), in police custody over diversion of inheritance money amounting to N166m.
The suspects were arraigned for alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and cheating.
The prosecutor, Inspector Aliyu Yakubu, told the court that on November 29, 2022, one Mustapha Labaran Kago of F-Layout Area on Bosso Road, Minna, reported to the Commissioner of Police (CP) through a petition written by Amana Chambers, accusing the suspects of diverting the proceeds of sales of their late father’s assets.
He said Amana Chambers had earlier written to the Niger State Court of Appeal, Minna, to appoint an administrator to the assets of their late father, Alhaji Labaran Kago, and that the Shari’a Court judge was appointed alongside the registrar to take charge of the sales and sharing of the assets.
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He explained that four persons were also appointed to represent the family and that the assets and property were sold at the rate of N166m, but the money was not remitted to the family.
The prosecutor told the court that during police interrogation, the suspects confessed to having taken charge of the sales and converted the same into their personal use.
The defense counsel applied for their bail but it was rejected by the prosecution.
The Magistrate, Adamu Abubakar, ruled that the suspects be remanded in police custody and adjourned to December 12, 2022.
