Former UNIJOS Union Officials Allegedly Defrauded Members of N178 Million in Land Deal
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Two former officials of the University of Jos’ Non Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), Kassam Kopte and Yakubu Zwalnan, are facing trial for allegedly defrauding union members of N178,583,560.36 (One Hundred and Seventy-eight Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-three Thousand, Five Hundred Sixty Naira, Thirty-six Kobo) in a fraudulent land deal.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Kopte, who served as chairman, and Zwalnan, who served as secretary, on three-count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy to defraud. The alleged offenses contravene Section 97 of the Penal Code Laws of Plateau State.
On Wednesday, March 6, witnesses in the trial narrated their experiences before Justice S.P Gang of the Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos.
Second prosecution witness, Dabup Luka Jacob, a lecturer at the university, testified that he lost N448,200 (Four Hundred and Forty-Eight Thousand, Two Hundred Naira) to the two defendants after paying for two plots of land. He stated that he was never shown title documents for the plots and has no claim to them.
Third prosecution witness, James Wazhi Jangfa, also testified, claiming he was defrauded of N896,400 (Eight Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand, Four Hundred Naira) for five plots of land. He said he was only shown three plots, and none of them had any legal documentation despite paying for land title fees.
The testimonies of both witnesses corroborated the claims of the first prosecution witness, Bitrus Ayuba, who, on Tuesday, March 5, narrated losing N448,000 (Four Hundred and Forty-eight Thousand Naira) in the scam.
The court admitted copies of payment receipts presented by the witnesses as evidence after objections from the defense counsels were overruled by Justice Gang. The trial has been adjourned to May 14 and 15, 2024, for continuation.
