EFCC secures conviction of Gombe internal revenue chair, others

Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Gombe Zonal office has secured the conviction of Atiku Mu’azu Bayum, Mohammed Adi, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abubakar Usman on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and theft.

Justice Beatrice Iliya of the Gombe state High Court sitting in Gombe ordered their conviction after pronouncing them guilty of the said crime.

Justice also ordered them to pay fine of N100, 000 each following the allocutus by the defence counsel.

They were alleged to have as chairman, chief store officer, chief accountant and director of the Gombe state Board of Internal Revenue respectively, conspired and stolen N25, 060, 000 belonging to the Gombe state government.

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Atiku Mu’azu Bayum, Mohammed Adi, Ibrahim Abubakar and Abubakar Usman sometimes between January and July 2015 at Gombe within the jurisdiction of this court with intent did dishonestly commit theft to wit;

fraudulently convert N25, 060, 000 property of Gombe state government and thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 286 and 287 of the Penal Code.”