By Tayo Joseph Lagos, Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today April 19, 2017 arraigned and secured the conviction of one Abdullahi Mohammed Maikano before Justice Umar M. Sadiq on a three count charge of criminal breach of trust and forgery.
The 38 years old resident of Malam Madori town, Jigawa State, fraudulently collected the sum N700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) from one Ibrahim Umar for the purpose of securing a hajj seat for his wife under the Jigawa State pilgrims board but converted the money to his personal use and issued the victim a forged receipt from the pilgrims board.
One of the charge read that “ You Abdullahi Mohammed Maikano of Malam Madori town Jigawa State sometime in 2015 at Dutse within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Jigawa State , whilst being entrusted with the sum of N700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) by one Umar Ibrahim on the agreement that you will secure a slot for the 2015 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for his wife under Malam Madori Zone, Jigawa State pilgrims welfare board, instead you converted the sum to your personal use and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 311 and punishable under section 312 of the Penal Code”.
After listening to the charge, the accused person pleaded guilty to all the three counts.
In view of the plea of the accused person prosecution counsel Idris I. Haruna asked the court to convict him as charged.
Justice Sadiq convicted Maikano as charged and sentenced him to a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira Only) or four years imprisonment on count one. On count two, the convict was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment or a fine N70,000 (Seventy Thousand Naira Only) while on count 3 he is to serve 3 years imprisonment or pay a N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira Only)fine . Sentences are to run concurrently.
