Court sentences ‘Mama Boko Haram’, two others to 5 years imprisonment for N6m fraud

Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on Thursday, November 28, 2024, sentenced Aisha Alkali Wakil, widely known as “Mama Boko Haram,” alongside two associates, to five years in prison each.

Wakil, the Chief Executive Officer of the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, was convicted alongside Programme Manager Tahiru Saidu Daura and Country Director Prince Lawal Shoyode. The case involved charges of cheating, conspiracy, and giving false information related to a fraudulent N6 million transaction.

The defendants were re-arraigned on September 1, 2020, on a four-count amended charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

One of the charges specified that the trio, under the guise of executing a contract, dishonestly induced Alhaji Bukar Kachalla of Abks Ventures Limited to deliver a 2012 Toyota Camry valued at N6 million. The vehicle was neither paid for nor returned to the petitioner.

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During the trial, EFCC prosecutors Mukhtar Ali Ahmed and Shamsudeeb Olayinka Saka presented three witnesses and submitted documentary evidence to support the allegations. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Kumaliya found the evidence compelling and convicted the defendants on all counts. The court sentenced each to five years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

In addition, the judge ordered them to collectively restitute the outstanding sum of N3.5 million to the petitioner. Failure to comply with the restitution order would result in an additional five years of imprisonment.

The case stemmed from events between October and November 2018, when the defendants, acting under their NGO, promised to purchase the Toyota Camry as part of a contract. However, the car was neither paid for nor returned to its rightful owner, leading to allegations of fraud.

The conviction marks a significant legal outcome in the ongoing effort to hold individuals accountable for financial misconduct under the guise of humanitarian efforts.

The EFCC’s diligence in prosecuting the case highlights the commitment to combating corruption and fraud in Nigeria.