The Borno State High Court in Maiduguri has convicted and sentenced two individuals for criminal misappropriation involving a total of N14.8million after they pleaded guilty to separate charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice B.T. Zannah delivered the judgment on Monday, sentencing the convicts, Babagana Bukar and Hauwa Chabri, in separate cases prosecuted by the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate.
According to the anti-graft agency, Bukar was arraigned on a one-count charge of dishonestly converting N8.8million meant for the supply of 100 bags of IRS flour and 50 bags of BUA sugar to his personal use.
The EFCC told the court that the money belonged to Bunu Gambo Liman and was transferred to Bukar through Babakura Umar and Bello Adamu for the transaction, which he failed to execute.
Chabri, on her part, was charged with misappropriating N6million paid by Mohammed Samaila Yakubu for the supply of beef, which she allegedly diverted for personal use.
Both defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them.
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Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, A.D. Abdulmalik, urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
Bukar’s lawyer, S. Mustapha, appealed for leniency, informing the court that his client had fully refunded the complainant. Chabri also pleaded for mercy, promising to restitute the petitioner.
Justice Zannah subsequently sentenced Bukar to one year imprisonment with an option of a N100,000 fine.
The court also ordered Chabri to refund the N6million to the complainant or serve a two-year prison term in default of restitution.
The EFCC said Bukar’s prosecution followed complaints that he collected N8.8million to procure flour and sugar but diverted the funds, while Chabri received N6million to supply beef but also converted the money to personal use.
