The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today, April 25th,
secured the conviction of a former member of the Kogi State House of
Assembly and former Caretaker Chairman, Ogori/Magongo Local Government
Area of the state, Gabriel Daudu, for a N1.4 billion fraud.Daudu who was first arraigned in April 2010, was prosecuted by the EFCC
on a 208 count charge bordering on money laundering and misappropriation
of public funds.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the case at a
Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, found him guilty of 77 counts
and sentenced him to 154 years imprisonment.
In his ruling, the trial judge, held that the prosecution proved its
case beyond every reasonable doubt, and therefore sentenced Daudu to two
years on each of the 77 counts to run concurrently.
Before the conviction of Daudu, prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu,
tendered various exhibits before the court and fielded 13 witnesses to
prove the case against him.
It would be recalled that in the course of the trial presided over by
Justice Ekwo, had indicated that the trial might have to start afresh as
the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, had
asked Justice P.M. Ayuba of the Lokoja Division of the court to take
over the case.
However, Shittu had pleaded with Justice Auta to review the decision.
The Chief Judge, thereafter, returned the case file to Justice Ekwo, who
has now found Daudu guilty of the 77 counts.