By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned two officials, Mr. Popoona Samuel and Mr. Arama Davies Gyandi, before a Federal High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, over an alleged diversion of funds released by the World Bank for the rehabilitation of primary schools affected by insurgency in the state.
The duo appeared before Honourable Justice Tijjani G. Ringim on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, to answer a four-count charge bordering on money laundering and unlawful retention and conversion of public funds.
According to the ICPC, Samuel and Gyandi were serving as officers under the State Education Investment Project in the Office of the Accountant General of Adamawa State in 2020 when they allegedly diverted substantial sums meant for the renovation of schools managed by School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs).
ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, disclosed in an official statement that the defendants conspired to launder funds belonging to two primary schools, Kwaja Primary School in Mubi South and Mutuku Primary School in Hong Local Government Area through private bank accounts.
The first and second counts of the charge alleged that the accused persons took possession of N2.4 million refunded by the SBMC of Kwaja Primary School and paid the money into a Zenith Bank account belonging to Popoona Samuel. Out of that sum, N1 million was allegedly transferred to a UBA account belonging to Arama Davies Gyandi.
The third count revealed that Popoona Samuel also took possession of N2.5 million refunded by the SBMC of Mutuku Primary School, alongside the earlier N2.4 million from Kwaja Primary School, both amounts totaling N4.9 million paid into his personal Zenith Bank account. The funds were part of a World Bank grant earmarked for rebuilding education infrastructure destroyed during the Boko Haram insurgency.
The charge stated that the accused persons “reasonably ought to have known that the said sums formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to them in court.
Following their plea, counsel to the ICPC, Mr. T.S. Iorngee, applied for a date to commence trial, while the defence counsel, S.J. Wugira, moved an application for bail.
Justice Ringim granted the bail application under stringent conditions. Each defendant was admitted to bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a Federal or Adamawa State public servant on Grade Level 14 or above, a traditional ruler not below the rank of a District Head, or a director of a company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with a share capital of at least ₦10 million.
In addition to meeting the financial bond, the defendants and their sureties are required to submit two recent passport photographs, a valid means of official identification, an affidavit of means, a utility bill, a letter of recommendation from the defence counsel, and a valid phone number. The court also mandated the verification of the surety’s residential address by both the prosecution and court registry.
The case has been adjourned to October 22, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
