Yan Nigeria
Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, located in Maiduguri, on Wednesday, found the trio of Aisha Alkali Wakil, also known as Mama Boko Haram, Tahiru Saidu Daura, and Prince Lawal Shoyode guilty and sentenced each of them to a 14-year prison term.
Naija News reports that the development was made public by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday.
The defendants were brought to court on September 14, 2020, by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, facing a two-count charge related to conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences amounting to ₦11 million.
The second count of the charge stated, “That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura, and Prince Lawal Shoyode, while serving as Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager, and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aids Foundation (a Non-Governmental Organisation), along with Saidu Mukhtar (who is currently at large), at some point in July 2018 in Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with the intent to defraud, obtained the sum of ₦11 million from Muhammed Ambare of Muhammed Ambare Ventures under the false pretense of executing a supposed contract for the supply, installation, and servicing of two units of X-Ray Machine Model 1800, which you knew to be untrue, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were presented, leading to a full trial.
Naija News understands that during the trial, the prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, and S. O. Saka, called one witness and submitted several documents to the court to substantiate the case.
On Wednesday, after multiple adjournments requested by the defendants, Justice Kumaliya delivered the judgment, convicting and sentencing them to seven years of imprisonment each on counts one and two.
The sentences are to be served concurrently.
The judge mandated that the convicts collectively and individually repay the amount of N8 million to the petitioner, or alternatively, face an additional seven years in prison.
The convicts’ path to the Correctional facility commenced due to their fraudulent actions in awarding fictitious contracts for the supply, installation, and servicing of two units of X-Ray Machine Model 1800 to the petitioner and his company.
They compelled the petitioner to transfer ₦11 million into the account of a third party, Saidu Muktar (who is currently at large), and neither the contract was fulfilled nor was the money returned to the petitioner.
Naija News recalls that six months ago, the Chief Executive Officer of the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO), Aishal Wakil, widely recognized as Mama Boko Haram, along with two other officials from her organization, were sentenced to five years in prison each for involvement in a fraud amounting to over ₦6 million.
The other two individuals sentenced alongside Mama Boko Haram are identified as Tahiru Saidu Daura, the program manager of the NGO, and Prince Lawal Shoyode, the Country Director of the organisation.
The sentences were handed down following their arrest and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly taking a 2012 Toyota Camry valued at ₦6,000,000.00 (Six Million Naira) from a petitioner under the pretence of purchasing the vehicle. They failed to either acquire the car or return it to the petitioner.
On Thursday, November 28, 2024, Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri sentenced the individuals to imprisonment after they were found guilty on four amended charges related to cheating, conspiracy, and providing false information amounting to ₦6 million.
Mama Boko Haram has been slammed with a series of prison sentences.
The post Mama Boko Haram Gets Fresh 14-year Jail Term Over Alleged Fraud appeared first on Naija News.
