Between 2016 and early this year, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), have prosecuted some political elites, government workers and others including a traditional ruler in Bauchi State, according to data collected from the portal of the Corruption Cases Database, a platform that compiles and provides details of such cases in Nigeria to ensure compliance and speedy conclusion of trials.
No fewer than 20 corruption cases involving these people have been recorded in Bauchi State. The cases range from forgery, fraud, employment scams, and money laundering to stealing. However, only 12 out of the 20 cases have been decided. They include cases of fraud, forgery, theft and scam.
Of the 20 cases, five of the defendants are political elites or government officeholders. Two of them were Bauchi State judiciary staff members.
Eight Cases Still on Trial
There are eight cases still on trial, according to WikkiTimes’ analysis of the corruption cases portal.
In one of the cases, the defendants, Garba Dahiru, a former Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance and three others, in their capacities as members of the fundraising committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi State, were alleged to have received N214.7 million in cash during the campaign for the 2015 general election.
According to the EFCC, the defendants received funds beyond the threshold provided by law, thereby violating the provisions of the Money Laundering Act. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the crime.
The case is still on trial before the Federal High Court, Bauchi.
In another case, staff of the Bauchi state judiciary, Usman Abdulrahman and Hafizu Dauda, allegedly diverted many units of motorcycles, meant for some beneficiaries. The duo committed the crime while serving as the secretary and treasurer of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, (AUPCTRE) Judiciary Branch, Bauchi.
Also, Abdulrahman Barau, former chairman of the Agriculture and Allied Union of Nigeria, alongside 3 others are facing trial for allegedly diverting money meant for purchasing 955 units of motorcycles for onward issuance to members of the union and civil servants in Bauchi State as loan. They allegedly deducted money meant for payment from the salaries of workers but did not remit it to the bank.
In an alleged case of fraud, Mohammed Uba, the village head of Wuntin Dada in Bauchi deceived a petitioner into buying a piece of land from him. Meanwhile, the land does not belong to him and he had no access to the title documents.
Aminu Shehu and one other, allegedly conspired amongst themselves and dishonestly induced one Danlami Inuwa to deliver the sum of N950, 000,000 to them as payment for a land space located at urban market in Bauchi, otherwise known as Kasuwan Waya.
Also, one Muhmmad Nazif Inuwa allegedly sold a plot of land purportedly covered by a grant of a Right of Occupancy located at Z 79 DP/34 Extension at Bauchi for N600,000. However, having commenced building on the land, the complainant was accosted by one Alhaji Aminu Mohammed who claimed to be the rightful owner of the land sold to Usman.
Pretending to be a truck driver, the EFCC said, one Nura Garba, convinced a petitioner to give him a truck load of 600 bags of rice worth N5.5 million to be delivered from Lagos to Suleja, Niger state. However, Garba and his 5 accomplices diverted the goods to Bauchi, where they sold the consignment and converted the proceeds to their personal use.
In another case of scam, one Ahmadu Mijinyawa was alleged to have offered fake appointment letters to his victims purported to be from Bauchi State Ministry for Local Government for a fee, ranging from N120,000 to N150,000.
Mijinyawa is facing a 5-count charge bordering on employment scam. He has allegedly swindled his victims out of N3.4 million.
Cases Decided
Ibrahim Aliyu, a deputy director of planning at the Bauchi State Ministry of Land and Survey was alleged to have dishonestly induced one Mustapha Bala to deliver to him the sum of N1.1 million for the sale of a plot of land situated at BSADP Quarters, Bauchi which belonged to Usman Bilyaminu, the Emir of Dass, without his consent.
Aliyu, who pleaded guilty to the charges was sentenced to three months with an option of N50,000.00 fine on count one and two years imprisonment with an option of N100,000.00 fine on count two.
In another case of scam, Baba Suleiman Darazo, a Chief Driver of Bauchi State Judicial Service Commission “fraudulently” obtained documents from the Commission and used them to print a contract award letter to a company (Y. K. Priority, a Subsidiary Company of Task System Limited) for the supply of 5,000 units of Laptop Computers to AUPCTRE, purporting it to have emanated from the Commission.
After pleading guilty to the charge, the trial judge convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with a fine option of N100,000.00. The court also ordered the convict to restitute N430,000.00 which he obtained as facilitation fees from the manager of the company he scammed.
One Haruna Abdulmumini alongside other suspects [at large] conspired among themselves and converted a landed property situated at Fadaman Mada, Bauchi by forging documents of the property, with which they sold it to their victim at the sum of N780, 000,000.
The trial judge convicted and sentenced the defendant to five years respectively on count two and three, and seven years on count five. The sentences are to run concurrently, starting from November 16, 2016.
In a case of forgery, one Saleh Haruna was alleged to have criminally “forged” a public government document and in view of his plea, the trial judge thereafter convicted and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, with a fine option of N200,000.00.
One Yusuf Aminu was alleged to have dishonestly obtained the sum of N1.6 million from First City Monument Bank, pretending to use it for the improvement and enhancement of his working capital. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment with a fine option of N50,000.00.
In another case, the accused, Ibrahim Abdullahi was alleged to have committed theft of N30, 000, by taking it out of the possession of one Zainab Usman, through the use of her ATM card. In view of the defendant’s plea, the trial judge thereafter convicted and sentenced him to one year imprisonment with a fine option of N20,000.00.
Also, Umar Aliyu Sabo, the accused person , allegedly induced his victim to pay him the sum of N500,000 for the purchase of a non-existent plot of land at Federal Low Cost, Bauchi. After pleading guilty, the trial judge convicted and sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment with an option of N100,000.00 fine. The court also ordered the convict to pay N330,000.00 in restitution to the victim through the EFCC.
In a case of forgery, one Abdullahi Aliyu Faisal was alleged to have been involved in the activities of forging the Bauchi State Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), the Executive Governor’s signature and other sensitive documents including examination results. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge upon arraignment and was consequently convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Yahaya Ahmed Alfa also forged the Bauchi State Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), the Executive Governor’s signature and other sensitive documents including examination results. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted and sentenced to one year jail term with a fine option of N50,000.00.
Furthermore, Mohammed Magaji Ali, was alleged to have been entrusted three cows to rear but he fattened the animals, sold them worth N650, 000 and converted the proceeds to personal use. The defendant pleaded guilty upon arraignment and was consequently convicted and sentenced to two years in jail. The judge, however, gave the convict an option of a N50,000.00 fine and ordered him to pay the victim the sum of N360,000.00 as restitution.
Ibrahin Abubakar allegedly obtained the sum of N2.2 million by falsely representing to the victim that the money was meant to facilitate employment for him at Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Abuja. The defendant changed his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty” and was consequently convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N50,000.00.
The court, therefore, ordered that the sum of N2.2 million recovered by the prosecuting agency be paid to the victim.
In a case of fraud, one Amina Yahaya Gumau was alleged to have engaged the services of her victim to supply 200 bags of parboiled rice at the rate of N30,000.00 per bag and 70 gallons of groundnut oil at the rate of N20,000.00 each but refused to pay while receiving the supplies.
The defendant pleaded guilty upon arraignment and was consequently convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N30,000.
