A former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma, Prof. Armayau Bichi, has been brought before the Katsina State High Court by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged bribery offences.
Bichi is standing trial on a five-count charge involving an alleged N19.7 million bribe. He was arraigned before Justice Musa Abubakar alongside two other defendants, Lawal Mani and Aliyu Jari, whom the EFCC alleged acted as intermediaries in receiving the illicit payments on his behalf.
One of the charges stated that Bichi, while serving as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsinma in July 2023, allegedly received a N5 million bribe from one Theophilus Ilechukwu of Goezek International Agency Nigeria Limited.
The payment was said to be a reward for the award of contracts for the supply of medical equipment and the furnishing of a laboratory at the university. According to the charge, the money was paid into an Access Bank account belonging to Aliyu Lawal Jari. The offence is said to be punishable under Section 79 (a), (b), and (i) of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.
Also Read: http://No Project Lacks Funding, Bayelsa Govt Insists
The EFCC further alleged that Bichi received additional bribes through the second and third defendants as kickbacks from contractors who were awarded various projects by the university during his tenure.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Salihu Sani, asked the court to fix a trial date to allow the prosecution present its witnesses and establish its case. Defence counsel, A. L. Yusuf and Raphael Henry, in separate applications, urged the court to grant their clients bail.
After considering arguments from both sides, Justice Abubakar granted each defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with one surety in the same amount. The case was thereafter adjourned to March 12, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
