Rice Dealer Bags Two Years Imprisonment, as EFCC Returns N1.5bn Recovered Funds to NHIS
By Paul Michael
The Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has secured the conviction of a rice dealer, Ibrahim Yusuf, in the State.
The anti-graft agency made this known on Saturday, adding that Yusuf was sentenced to two years imprisonment by Justice Doraboh Sakkiam of the Gombe High Court, on 15th February, 2022, on one count charge of cheating contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law, which is punishable under Section 322 of same Law.
“The convict was alleged to have sometime in October 2020 obtained the aggregate sum of N5,350,000.00 (Five Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from one Usman Umar Bello by falsely representing to him that the money was payment for the purchase of 520 bags of paddy rice but converted same to his personal use,” the agency said.
According to EFCC, Yusuf pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. He was therefore, sentenced to two years imprisonment for the offense.
In another development, the EFCC has said a total of N1.5 billion has been returned to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
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The anti-graft agency revealed this on Saturday while expressing its commitment in tackling financial crimes in the country.
According to the agency, the money which was returned to the health insurance agency on 10th February, 2022, is part of government’s loan funds that some banks refused to transfer into the single account of the agency since 2015.
It also stated that on 16th September, 2021, the EFCC also handed over N1.3 billion that was initially recovered from other banks, to the NHIS.
