The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Sulieman Garba Bulkwang, the Director of Human Resources Management at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Bulkwang faces five counts of criminal diversion of funds and money laundering involving a total of N223,412,909.
The charges include Bulkwang’s involvement in the unlawful transfer of N138,123,969 from funds paid to consultants for REA services. The funds were part of a N279,330,000 payment made to consultants Cees Assist Resources and Brainstask Value Resources. He is accused of knowing the transfer was part of illegal activity, a violation of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
Another charge details a separate N45,000,000 conversion by Bulkwang in July 2023, involving payments to various bank accounts linked to companies working with REA. These actions are also classified as proceeds of unlawful activity.
Bulkwang pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution, led by Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, requested the defendant’s remand in a correctional center and a trial date. Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to February 3, 2024, for Bulkwang’s bail application and ordered his remand at Kuje Correctional Center.
