Court send Abdullstif to prison over N13million fraud

Andrew Orolua Abuja

Justice Fadawu Umar of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State capital on Tuesday convicted one Alhaji Audu Abdullstif for fraud involving the sum of N15.3m

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Maiduguri Zonal office had arraigned Abdullstif before the court on the following charge.

“That you, Alhaji Audu Abdullatif, on or about the 16 of May, 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, induced one Awana Alhaji Rijiya to deliver to you the sum of N15,3000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only vide account transfers from Modiko Trading Company to your First bank Account No. 1000454033 under the false pretence of selling goods (food stuffs) to him, which facts you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 320(a) of the Borno State Penal Code Laws Cap. 102 and punishable under section 322 of the same Law.”

The accused person pleaded guilty to the one count charge.

Counsel to the prosecution, Halima Alhaji Shehu prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Justice Umar, accordingly, found him guilty and convicted him as charged.

The convict however pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

But the Judge sentenced him to one year in prison with an option of fine in the sum of N1, 000, 000 only.

EFCC said that the convict had, in the course of investigation, paid to the petitioner, the N13 million, being the subject matter of litigation.