Crimes

Court jails Yobe Auditor General for N19.9m fraud

The Yobe State High Court has sentenced the Auditor General for Local Government in the state, Idris Yahaya, to five years imprisonment for fraud

Yahaya was convicted on Monday, March 13 after being pronounced guilty of one count of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N19.9 million preferred against him by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Yahaya was said to have 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.

READ ALSO: 2 PDP chieftains jailed for N142m elections bribe

The  one count charge read: ”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 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only.”

The convict who was first arraigned on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, leading to his full trial.

In the course of the trial, counsel for the EFCC, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence.

Delivering judgement on Monday, Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan held that the prosecution has proved the case against the defendant and convicted him as charged.

Justice Lawan consequently sentenced Yahaya to 5 years imprisonment with an option of fine.

The judge further directed the convict to pay N10.1 million in restitution to Yobe State Government through the EFCC or serve additional two years in prison.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Anambra bans unauthorised speed bumps on public roads

The Anambra State Government has prohibited residents and communities from constructing speed bumps on public…

21 minutes ago

Lassa fever cases rise as death toll hits 229

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported an increase in confirmed…

58 minutes ago

Bandits abduct Zamfara LG chairman, kill four security personnel

Suspected bandits have abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura…

2 hours ago

Kano bans ‘after-party’, ‘hot challenge’ at weddings, social events

The Kano State Censorship Board has banned activities popularly known as “after-party” and “hot challenge”…

3 hours ago

Ndume denies facilitating N5bn ransom, says he alerted security agencies

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, has denied allegations that he facilitated the…

3 hours ago

Paramount agrees to delay $110bn Warner Bros merger

Paramount Skydance agreed on Friday to delay its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery…

4 hours ago

This website uses cookies.