The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of one Danladi Mohammed before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri.
Mohammed was convicted on a single count of criminal misappropriation for the sum of ₦7,600,000.00.
He allegedly converted the proceeds of 8,000 pieces of camping lanterns, which he claimed were to be supplied to a United Nations Agency.
“That you, Danladi Mohammed, on or about July 2018 at Gidan Madara, Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this court dishonestly misappropriated and converted for your own use 8000 pieces of camping lanterns valued at the cost of N7,600,000.00 (Seven Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira), belonging to Ibrahim Audu under the guise that the said lanterns were to be supplied to United Nations High Commission and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State (Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994), respectively.” the charge reads.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on Tuesday, April 25, and the matter went to trial.
In the course of the trial, the prosecuting counsel, S.O. Saka, presented three witnesses and tendered several documents, which were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
In his judgement, Justice Fadawu convicted Mohammed as charged and sentenced him to one-year imprisonment with an option of ₦200,000.00 fine.
The judge also ordered the convict to pay the nominal complainant a total of ₦7.6 million. If he fails to do so, he will be sentenced to five years in prison, “beginning after the expiration of any prison term imposed by this court or any other court.”
In another development, on Thursday, July 13, EFCC also arraigned one Abdullahi Abdussalam before Justice Fadawu on a single-count charge of cheating to the tune of ₦55,676,700.00 by false pretence.
Due to the defendant’s refusal to take his plea, the court entered a ‘not guilty’ plea on his behalf.
S.O Saka, counsel for the prosecution, asked the court to remand the defendant and set a date for the trial to begin.
Justice Fadawu remanded the defendant in prison custody and adjourned the case until July 24 and 25.
