Yobe – Nigeria – Following an High Court judgement led by Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan, the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, has been sentenced to five years in prison for fraudulent practices.
Alhaji Idris Yahaya was convicted after being pronounced guilty of a one count of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N19,900,000.00) preferred against him by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It was gathered that Mr. Yahaya received funds from the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe State, for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of the money to his personal use.
“That you, Yahaya Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, between the 20th to 21st day of May 2017, at Damaturu, Yobe State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, received the sum of N19,900,000.00 via your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc for the purchase of a brand new Toyota Corolla 2015 model, did dishonestly misappropriated the gross sum of N10,100,000.00″ reads the one count charge in parts.
Yahaya, who was first arraigned on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the stage for his full trial.
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In the course of the trial, counsel for the EFCC, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence.
The prosecution had proved the case against the defendant, held Justice Lawan while delivering the judgement. He consequently sentenced him to five years imprisonment with an option of fine.
Furthermore, the judge directed the convict to pay the sum of N10,100,000.00 in restitution to the Yobe State Government through the EFCC, or serve additional two years in prison.
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