By Morenikeji Amole
The Kaduna state Drainage Contractors Association, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the issuance of alleged fake cheques.
The contractors through its lawyer, N.E Onyegbosi in a petition dated 10th October, 2024, and addressed to the Zonal Director, EFCC Kaduna Zonal Command stated that the alleged fake cheques were issued by the Managing Director, Kaduna Road Agency.
The said cheques were said to have been issued through the Accountant Generall and Commissioner of Finance, Kaduna , and presented the said 52 split cheque leaves to the Deputy Sheriff/ Chief Registrar of the High Court, Murtala Zubairu.
Recall, an order of the high court has directed an agency of the Kaduna state government; KADRA to pay the sum of N523 million naira debt, being the aggregate sum of what the agency (defendant) is owing the ( contractors) plaintiffs in respect of drainage construction in Kaduna and Zaria metropolis.
The plaintiffs in suit no: KDH/KAD/628/2020; Aminu Idris $ 111 others against the Kaduna state Road Agency (KADRA) petitioned that, however, after the judgement and being that there was no pending and functional appeal the judgement creditors on the order of the court levied execution, attaching some of the items of the judgement debtors.
The attached items by the judgement creditors included: 911 – Ruttman Truck Lifter, Tar Boiler FL 80, 914 Lifter with registration no: 09B – 06- KD, Dyana Truck (white), Dryana Truck ( Green) with registration no: 09B-13-KD, a Water Tanker (Howo 09B-08-KD and four Hilux vehicles.
Meanwhile, in the document obtained by our reporter revealed that while the attached items were in the custody of the Deputy Sheriff/ Chief Registrar of High Court at the instance of the judgement creditors, the managing director of the agency allegely connived with the ministry of Finance through the office of the Accountant General and presented invalid 52 split cheaque leaves to the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court, and released the items lawfully attached.
” As at the date and time of the petition, the suspects have never issued any valid cheaque and the Deputy Sheriff/Chief Registra who knowingly released the attached items in the face of invalid cheques never bothered to move the judgement debtor and Accountant General of Kaduna state to issue valid cheaques nothwithstanding the request and application of judgement creditors. They nnever bothered because they never issued the cheaques in good faith,” the petition disclosed.
The petition argued that the suspects upon the issuance of the alleged fake cheques be brought to book to serve as a deterent to others.