Posted by By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja on
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission this morning in Abuja slammed a 31-count charge against Chief Michael Botman, the former acting Governor of Plateau State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission this morning in Abuja slammed a 31-count charge against Chief Michael Botman, the former acting Governor of Plateau State.
The anti-graft body accused him of milking his state of a princely sum of N1.61 billion during his six months stint at the helm of affairs in the state following the impeachment of Governor Joshua Dariye by some lawmakers in the Plateau State House Assembly.
Botman pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The charge sheet specifically stated that the former Deputy Governor to Joshua Dariye converted to himself, the sum of N58.5 million belonging to the state. The money was alleged to have been illegally withdrawn from the state coffers as 'Classified Fund" on 9 March, 2007.On 27 March, 2007, Botman was alleged to have classified and converted a total sum of N268.3m, while N272.5m, N23m, N20m, N250m and N397m were allegedly hauled between 5 December, 2006 and 3 March, 2007.
He was also accused of transferring the sum of N2.5m from the state coffers to his Union Bank account in Plateau State.
Soon after taking his plea, Botman's counsel, Markus Saleh, a Senior Advocate attempted to make an oral application for bail but the presiding judge, Justice Anwuri Chikere categorically denied him the opportunity as she stated that she cannot hear any oral bail application.
Saleh informed the court that Botman is currently undergoing dialysis as he is suffering from diabetes, hypertension, gout and chronic kidney disease. Botman is said to be undergoing this dialysis twice weekly in his country home in Zawan village, Jos south LGA, Plateau State.EFCC's counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, affirmed the medical condition of Botman and obliged the request of the accused that he be confined to his country home to enable him utilize the dialysis machine installed at his home.
The court granted that and adjourned to 8 and 9 of October, 2008.