Borno court sentences 2 men for N44 million fraud
A court in Maiduguri has convicted two individuals for participating in fraudulent activities resulting in the embezzlement of a total sum of N44 million. The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully prosecuted the cases, which concluded with the defendants receiving prison sentences.
In the first case, Bukar Muhammad was arraigned on charges of obtaining money by false pretense and criminal breach of trust. It was alleged that he deceived Alhaji Ali Mohammed, who entrusted him with N43,328,000.00 for safekeeping, but instead misappropriated the funds for personal use.
Muhammad initially pleaded not guilty, leading to a trial where three witnesses and three exhibits were presented as evidence by the prosecution.
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However, Justice Aisha Kumaliya ultimately found him guilty. He was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay a fine of N200,000. Additionally, he was instructed to repay a balance of N13,234,100 to the victim or face an additional seven years in prison.
In the second case, Musa Bello was convicted on a charge of cheating, wherein he dishonestly enticed Aminu Ahmed and others with the false promise of facilitating food distribution items from a non-governmental organization. Bello collected a total sum of N1,300,000.00 for this purpose.
The charge read: ‘’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 a Non-Governmental Organization, Save the Children, and collected the total sum of N1, 300,000.00 (One Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320 (a) of Borno State Penal Code Law Cap. 102 and punishable under section 322 of the same law”.
He pleaded guilty to the charge, and the prosecution presented one witness in support of his guilty plea.
Justice Umaru Fadawu handed down a one-year prison sentence to Bello, with the option of a N200,000.00 fine.
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