The Federal Government on Thursday arraigned the Director of Finance and Account in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Ibrahim Tumsah over his alleged failure to declare his ownership of 86 exotic cars. Yumsay who was docked before the Federal High Court in Abuja alongside his brother Mr. Tijani Tumsah was a member of the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative and a former Interim National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tumsah and his brother pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge prepared by the Chief Okoi Obono-Obla-led Special Presidential Investigation Panel on the Recovery of Public Property.
According to Vanguard, the FG had disclosed that out of the 86 vehicles that were seized from the defendants, 23 of them were amoured and brand new. It further hinted that four houses and a quarry plant in Abuja were equally seized from them.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted the defendants bail to the tune of N20million with two sureties. The court said the sureties must either be a businessman or a public civil servant not below the rank of grade level 15, and must own landed properties anywhere in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Also, the court ordered the defendants to surrender their international passports, stressing that they should not travel out of the country without permission.
They are to be remanded in Kuje Prison until they perfect their bail conditions. The case was thereafter adjourned till March 1.
The charges preferred against them read
“That you, Ibrahim Musa Tumsah, M, and Tijani Musa Tumsah, M, on or about October 10 and 25, 2017 being public officers with the Federal Ministry of Power , Works and Housing, Abuja and the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative Abuja respectively within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: refusal to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under 5. 3 (3) (1) (a) of the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004 .
“That you, Ibrahim Musa Tumsah, M, and Tijani Musa Tumsah, M, on or about October 10 and 25, 2017 being public officers with the Federal Ministry of Power , Works and Housing, Abuja and the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative Abuja respectively within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, committed an offence to wit: neglect to declare your assets without reasonable excuse and upon the notice to declare your assets before the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property, Abuja, contrary to and punishable under Section 3(3)(1) (a) of the Recovery of Public property (special provision) Act 2004.”
