The Director of Human Resources Management at the Rural Electrification Agency, Suleiman Bulkwang, has been remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment on charges of alleged money laundering involving a sum of N223,412,909.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Bulkwang before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count charge bordering on criminal diversion of funds and money laundering.
During the proceedings, the defendant pleaded “not guilty” to all charges leveled against him.
The EFCC, in a statement posted on its official X account, detailed the allegations.
In one of the counts, the anti-graft agency claimed, “That you, SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG, while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did counsel one Umaefulem Donatus Chibueze, the Managing Director of Cees Assist Resources and Brainstask Value Resources (consultants to REA), to transfer the sum of N138,123,969 out of the N279,330,000 paid to the consultants by REA, when you knew that the said sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activity. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
In another count, the EFCC alleged, “That you, SULEIMAN GARBA BULKWANG, while being the Director of Human Resources Management of the Rural Electrification Agency, sometime in July 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly converted the sum of N45,000,000—part of the money cumulatively paid to the bank accounts of Dammy Gold Programme Ltd, World Class Business, Green Haven Company, and De-Sam Rose-Base Ltd by consultants to REA—when you knew that the said sum constituted proceeds of unlawful activity. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act.”
The presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, adjourned the case to February 3, 2024, for the hearing of Bulkwang’s bail application. In the interim, the court ordered his remand in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The charges against Bulkwang underscore the EFCC’s commitment to tackling financial malfeasance in public institutions.
The anti-corruption agency has consistently reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption, warning public officials against abuse of office and financial misconduct.
As the case unfolds, it shines a spotlight on alleged corrupt practices within key government agencies and reinforces the need for transparency and accountability in public service.
