...To pay N77m restitution to Fed Govt
A former Bauchi State Accountant General, Yusuf Ibrahim Gokaru who was arraigned before Justice Muazu Abubakar of the Bauchi State High Court on charges bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, concealment of the source and origin of the money by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gombe Zonal Office have been Jailed.
His journey to jail, according to EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren began in August 2019 when the Bauchi State Government, in a petition to the Commission, alleged that the convict abused his office as Accountant General and obtained the sum of One Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand, Two Hundred Naira Only. (N108,363,200) for personal used.
The money was said to have been diverted from the World Bank assistance to Bauchi State Government under the State Education Programme Investment Project, SEPIP.
The defendant transferred the money from Bauchi State Consolidated Naira Account domiciled at Polaris Bank to a Unity Bank account.
The offence is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
In the course of Investigation by operatives, Thirty One Million Naira (N31m) was recovered from the defendant.
However upon arraignment on March 13, 2020 he pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him, setting the stage for trial.
The prosecution counsel, A.Y Muntaka in the course of trial presented witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence.
At the resume hearing of the case today, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, the defendant changed his plea and pleaded “guilty” as charged.
Consequently, the judge pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to one year imprisonment with an option of fine.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Abubakar also ordered the convict to pay the sum of Seventy-seven Million Naira (N77m) as restitution to Bauchi State Government within one year.
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