Man Bags 125 Years Jail Term over Fake SIP Food Contract

Man Bags 125 Years Jail Term over Fake SIP Food Contract

A Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has convicted and sentenced one Allen Abel to a cumulative term of 125 years in prison for allegedly fraudulently obtaining food items valued at N12, 879,800.00 (Twelve Million Eight Hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Naira) on the pretext of executing a fake contract for Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHDSD)’s School Feeding scheme under the Social Intervention Programme (SIP) of  the Federal Government.

Abel was arraigned before Justice Aisha Kumaliya on Thursday, July 2, 2020 alongside Suleiman Adamu, Usman Adamu and Kingsley Madubuagu by the Maiduguri zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on  20-count charge that borders on forgery, possession of false documents, impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

Count three of the charge reads: “That you, Allen Abel, Suleiman Adamu and Usman Adamu sometimes between February and March, 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained 1313 (One Thousand Three Hundred and Thirteen) cartons of spaghetti and 480 (Four Hundred Eighty) bags of rice both worth N12, 110,000.00 (Twelve Million One Hundred Ten Thousand Naira) only from one Lelle Hyelwa Sini of Lelle Foresight Construction Co. Ltd. under the false pretence of executing a contract of supply of food items, purportedly awarded by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development (Federal Government School Feeding Programme, under the Social Intervention Programme, SIP), which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Abel pleaded guilty to the twenty count charges upon arraignment and Justice Kumaliya convicted him accordingly, and adjourned to September 30 for sentencing.

As the resumed hearing on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Justice Kumaliya sentenced Abel to 7 years imprisonment each on counts 1 to 6, and 9 without an option of fine;  5 years imprisonment each on counts 7, 8 and  11-20 respectively without an option of fine. All sentences are to run consecutively.

In addition, the convict is to restitute Lele Foresight Construction Company the total sum of N12, 110,000.00 (Twelve Million One Hundred Ten Thousand Naira) and HIE Global Investment Limited the sum of N769,800 (Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand Eight Hundred Naira).
In another development, Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High court, Maiduguri has sentenced one Babagana Abatcha to two years imprisonment with an option of N500, 000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) fine.
The convict was arraigned by EFCC’s  Maiduguri Zonal office on one-count charge of criminal breach of trust to the tune of N9, 000,000.00 (Nine Million Naira).

The charge reads: “That you, Babagana Abatcha sometime between 2017 and 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with care over certain properties to wit: N9,000,000.00 (Nine Million Naira) only, by one Umar Gujja Ali being payment for the execution of a purported contract awarded to you by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Maiduguri, did dishonesty misappropriate the entire sum and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State Cap.102 Vol.3 of 1994 and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.”

Upon his arraignment, the convict pleaded not guilty to the one count charge, which prompted the prosecution to present witnesses and tendered several exhibits in proving its case .

Delivering his judgment on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 Justice Fadawu sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N500, 000.00 fine.

The court further odered the convict to pay Seven Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira in restitution to the nominal complainant or, in default, serve six years imprisonment and the years shall run consecutively.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
30 September, 2020
…….

Anti –graft War: EFCC Seeks Blessing of Kano Emir
The  Head of the Kano Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Sanusi Aliyu Mohammed today September 29th, 2020 asked for the support of the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, to enable the achievement of the mandate of the agency in his domain.

The Zonal Head who spoke during a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Emir, said  “The Commission realize that for it to win the war against corruption, all stakeholders must be involved especially the traditional institution’’.
‘’As the Royal Father of the people of Kano and its surroundings, we find it necessary to come to you and solicit your support, and that of the entire Kano Emirate Council which you are the Chairman. We also seek for your counsel and your blessing for the successful execution of our mandate’’, he added.

In his remark, Emir Bayero expressed his gratitude for the visit and charged the Zonal Head and the entire management of the Commission to always put the fear of God in executing their jobs. He also acknowledged the good work the Commission has done and is still doing for  the country.
‘’The important work you do for this country speaks for itself; we therefore don’t need to repeat what is obvious for everyone to see. The first thing I’d like to charge you with is for you to be diligent, professional and just in your investigations.’’

While charging the EFCC for uprightness, the Royal Father also urged the public to consider the Commission as theirs and embrace it. ‘’To the general public, we call on you to consider EFCC as your own because they are on the course of making this country great. It is therefore necessary for the public to support with information that can help their work. Because it is not enough for people to be talking about how much the country is damaged, what are you doing as a citizen of the country to change it for the better? Everybody has a stake in salvaging this country,” he said.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
30 September, 2020