EFCC convicts two persons to one-year imprison in Borno
By Njadvara Musa, Maiduguri
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured the conviction of two persons for alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating of N44.33 million in Borno State.
The convicted persons before Justices Aisha Kumaliya and Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Courts, Maiduguri, on September 12, 2023, included Bukar Muhammad and Musa Bello to serve one-year in prison.
EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, stated, yesterday (Wednesday), in Maiduguri that; “Muhammad’s journey to prison started when the Commission received a petition by one Alhaji Ali Mohammed,” alleging that he entrusted the above-mentioned sum to the defendant for safe keeping but converted it to his own use.
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The charges against him reads: “That you, Bukar Mohammed sometime in 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced one Alhaji Ali Mohammed to deliver to you monies in Euros and Naira to the equivalent of N43,33 million under the false presence of collecting same for safekeeping, which facts you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 1(1)(b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 respectively.”
The defendant, however, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the one-count charge prompting a full trial of the case before Justice Kumaliya.
Counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed alongside S.O Saka presented three witnesses and tendered three exhibits as evidence.
Justice Kumaliya in her judgment, found the defendant guilty and convicted him to a fine of N200,000 or one-year imprisonment.
According to the EFCC spokesman, she further ordered the convict to pay a balance of N13,234,100 to his victim or serve an additional seven years imprisonment.
Similarly, one Musa Bello was also convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment by Justice Umaru Fadawu of Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on a one-count charge alleged cheating to the tune of N1.3 million.
The charge also reads: ‘’That you, Musa Bello on or about 9th March, 2023, in Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly induced one Aminu Ahmed and others under the guise of facilitating food distribution items from, Save the Children, and collected N1.3 million.
“You’re therefore committing an offence contrary to section 320 (a) of Borno State Penal Code Law Cap. 102 and punishable under section 322 of the same law.”
The defendant, however, pleaded ‘guilty’ to the charge.
Counsel for the prosecution, Faruq Muhammad also presented one witness and urged the court to convict him accordingly.
Justice Fadawu, consequently, convicted and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment with an option of fine of N200, 000.
