N5.6m: Accounts assistant bags 8 years imprisonment
NAN-H-84
Fraud
By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Feb.22, 2107(NAN) An FCT High Court, Gudu, on Wednesday sentenced one Jibril Kadiri, an accounts assistant with Federal Capital Development Authority(FCDA) to eight years imprisonment for stealing N5.6million.
Kadiri was convicted on a two-count criminal charge bordering on falsification of accounts and theft.
The convict was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for the first count charge, while the second-count attracted one year.
The trial judge, Justice Mr Abubakar Talba, gave the convict an option of N100, 000 fine for the first count charge, while the second count charge was without an option of fine.
He said that the sentences would run concurrently.
Talba added that right of appeal by the convict was “allowed to the Court of Appeal.’’
In passing the sentence, the judge said he duly considered the defence counsel’s plea for leniency on behalf of the convict.
The convict, a former accounts assistant with the FCDA, was first arraigned in court with one Salihu Ibrahim on Nov.24, 2008.
Upon arraignment, Ibrahim pleaded guilty and was convicted for opening a UBA account with a fictitious name and “fraudulently receiving salaries and pensions from the FCDA pension department.’’
The convict, Kadiri had pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Mr Fatsuma Mohammed told the court that the trial commenced on Oct.24, 2009.
He said the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered 10 exhibits.
Mohammed said that the offence was contrary to Sections 337 and 289 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
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Edited by Obike Ukoh
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