Federal High Court in Maiduguri on
Thursday sentenced two local government
officials to one year in prison and N1
million fine each for selling 180 bags of rice
meant for Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs).
The convicts, Bulama Zangebe, a counsellor
and Modu Bulama, a storekeeper, both with
Mafa Local Government Council of Borno
were arraigned by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a
two-count charge bordering on criminal
conspiracy and criminal misappropriation.
According to the charge sheet, the two
colluded with one Shettima Maina, a former
chairman of the local government, to
commit the criminal act.
Maina, who was the first defendant, was
declared “at large” throughout the hearing of
the case because he was arrested by the
military, for allegedly hoarding a wanted
Boko Haram kingpin in his house.
Zangebe and Bulama were also convicted
for converting N1.4 million, being proceed
from the sale of the rice stolen from the IDP
camp, into their personal use.
The convicts equally converted another
N585,000, being the proceed from the sale
of yet another 65 bags of rice stolen from
the camp. Prosecuting witnesses told the
court that the rice in question was donated
to IDPs by the Danish Refugee Council
(DRC) and clearly marked “not for sale’’.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Fadawu Umar,
said that the two were found guilty of the
two-count charge brought against them by
EFCC.
Umar said that the second and third
defendants had, through their defence,
contradicted themselves throughout the
hearing. He added that the convicts told the
court that they had to sell the rice because
they were about to expire.
“They later told the court that the
former council chairman, Maina,
ordered them to sell the commodity
because the IDPs complained that
they were tired of eating rice every
day.
“The convicts further contradicted
themselves by saying that the stolen
rice belonged to soldiers, who wanted
to sell them off in order to travel for
Christmas,’’ the judge said.
Umar noted that the two also lied to the
court that the money realised from the sale
of the rice was used to buy maize for the
IDPs.
He said that “the convicts claimed that the
grains were kept in the local government
store.
“But when the court went to verify
the claims, it was found that 200
bags of maize had been in the store
long before the theft and sale of the
DRC donated rice.’’
The judge said that for the first count, the
convicts committed a crime punishable
under sections 96 and 97 of the Penal Code
Cap 345 of Northern States of Nigeria and
thereby sentenced to one year in prison and
a fine of N1 million.
“For the second charge, they
committed a crime punishable under
sections 308 and 309 of Penal Code
Law Cap 345, Laws of Northern
States of Nigeria, and are thereby
sentenced to one year in prison and a
fine of N1 million.’’
The judge said the convicts were to serve
the sentences concurrently.
The EFCC prosecuting lawyer, Khalid Sanusi,
said that the judgment was a welcome
development, as it would bring justice to the
people.
“We in the EFCC are prosecuting
persons involved in this kind of
crime, so that our society can be a
better place.” he said.

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By Kisha

Henry Treasure Generally Addressed As Kisha is a Young Nigerian Entrepreneur, Humanist, Content Creator, Blogger & CEO of WWW.AMIBOISLAND.COM As Much as i love my simplicity, i also Eat & Dine With Controversy. My personality Is Quite a Unique One, Isn't it? Lol!

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