Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on Thursday, October 15, 2020, convicted and sentenced one Bulama Habu Mohammed to one year in prison for N2, 400,000.00 (Two Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) fraud.
The convict was prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one count amended charge of conspiracy and fraud. He fraudulently sold to the nominal complainant two plots of land purportedly belonging to one Mariya Abba Aji.
The amended charge reads: “That you, Bulama Habu Mohammed, sometimes in July, 2019 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonesty induced; Mrs. Yemi Ibukun Oluwafemi to deliver to you the sum of N2,400,000.00 (Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira) only, through her lawyer one Babagana Alhaji Modu Esq. (now deceased) vide cash payment under the guise of selling to the said Mrs. Yemi Ibukun Oluwafemi two (2) plots of land purportedly belonging to Mariya Abba Aji situated at Shuwari Durmari of Bolori District, Maiduguri, Borno State and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 103 Laws of Borno State.”
He pleaded guilty to the charge brought against him by the EFCC.
Counsel for the prosecution, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed urged the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, while the defence counsel, B.G Sanda prayed the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant had paid the money involved in the scam.
Justice Fadawu thereafter, convicted and sentenced Habu to one year imprisonment with the option of fine of N100, 000.00.