The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 16, 2017 arraigned a former Niger State governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu and his Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources, Umar Mohammed Nasko, before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.46 billion.
One of the counts reads: "That you, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu (whilst being the Executive Governor of Niger State) and Umar Mohammed Nasko (whilst being the Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources in Niger State) on or about 23rd July, 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did indirectly take control of the aggregate sum of N478,495,600 (Four Hundred and Seventy Eighty Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Six Hundred Naira only) out of the sum of N487,495,600 (Four Hundred and Eighty Seven Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Six Hundred Naira only) paid by the Niger State Ministry of Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources to MJ Eco Projects Limited for environmental/ecological consultancy project awarded to the company in respect of Zone B of Niger State which money you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an offense unlawful act to wit: corruption and thereby committed an offencs contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act."
They pleaded "not guilty" to all the charges.
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