N260 Million Fraud: Former FUGUS VC bags 35 years in prison
Story from Saleh INUWA, Kano
The Federal Capital Territory High Court, Garki, Abuja, presided over by Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu, has found Professor Magaji Garba, former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) guilty of a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery, and sentenced him to 35 years jail term.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, secured the conviction of the accused person.
Garba was arraigned by the EFCC on October 12, 2021, for allegedly extorting various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the University.
The offence is contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Professor Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 15th of May 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N100,000,000 from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited.
A contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of N3 billion, which representation/pretence you knew to be false.
Count three reads: “That you, Professor Magji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 1st August 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150,000,000 from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contract executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the Federal University, Gusau under the false presence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of N3,000,000,000, which representation/pretence you knew to be false.”
He had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thereby setting the stage for his full trial.
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