The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, October 5, 2023 secured the conviction and sentencing of two fraudsters: Mohammed Idris and Ibrahim Suleiman Magaji to eight years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences.
Idris was arraigned before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court on one-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence to the tune of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira Only), while Magaji was arraigned on one-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of N11, 500, 000.00 (Eleven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
While Idris pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him, Magaji changed his initial “not guilty” to “guilty” in the course of the trial.
Prosecution counsel, S.K Saka, in the trial of Idris, presented five witnesses and tendered nine documents as evidence. Justice Fadawu, in his judgment, found him guilty, convicted and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment.
The court further ordered him to pay his victim the sum of N1m and in default, serve an additional three years.
Magaji was initially tried by EFCC counsels: Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, S.O Saka and F. Muhammad and presented three witnesses and tendered several documents as evidence. His counsel, M. Ibrahim, however, prayed the court later to allow the defendant to change his plea.
Magaji pleaded guilty to the charge and Justice Fadawu thereafter convicted and sentenced him to one year imprisonment without an option of fine. The Judge further ordered the convict to pay the balance of N8m to his victim or serve three years jail term.
The two convicts began their journeys to the Correctional Centre when they fraudulently collected a total sum of N12.5million from their victims under false pretences. When it became obvious to their victims that they had been duped, none of the convicts returned the funds to the victims.
In another development, Babagana Mustapha was arraigned before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on two-point charges bordering on criminal misappropriation to the tune of N 7,830,000.00 (Seven Million Eight and Thirty Thousand Naira only)
The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge prepared against him.
Counsels for the prosecution, S.O, Saka and F. Muhammad prayed the court for a trial date and remand of the defendant at the Correctional Centre.
Justice Fadawu remanded the defendant at the EFCC’s custody and adjourned the matter till October 10, 2023 for commencement of trial