Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court has convicted and sentenced Saleh Isa Abdullahi to six months’ imprisonment for fraud involving N1.34 million.
Abdullahi was prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation.
According to the charge, the convict dishonestly converted to his personal use the sum of N1,340,000 belonging to one Faruq Muhammad Ali.
The money was reportedly entrusted to him for the supply of 100 bags of cement in Maiduguri, Borno State, but was instead diverted without the owner’s consent.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge.
Prosecuting counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, urged the court to convict the defendant based on his plea, while defence counsel, A.B. Usman, appealed for leniency, noting that the convict had refunded the money.
In her ruling, Justice Kumaliya sentenced Abdullahi to six months’ imprisonment with an option of a N100,000 fine.
The court held that the offence contravened Sections 296 and 297 of the Penal Code Law.
