Kasim, Aminu Inuwa, Mohammed Adamu, Peter Pam and Shehuwa Baba in Gombe
State High Court, before Justice Abubakar Jauro.
The five were convicted on offences bordering on forgery, possession of counterfeit seals, cheating and employment scam.
The convicts committed the offences differently in the state, and all
pleaded guilty to their different crimes. The first convict, Hassan,
sometime in July 2016 dishonestly obtained money from one Aishatu
Muhammed for the purpose of procuring a forge certificate which is
contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal
Code.
Inuwa was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on forgery and
and possession of seal to commit forgery. Adamu on his part, sometime in
July, 2016 had in his possession, a forged result bearing his name
dated August 26, 2010, purported to have been issued by the University
of Maiduguri with I.D No. 04/08/04/075, which the court said he
“intended same to be dishonestly used as genuine,” contrary and
punishable under Section 368 of the Penal Code.
Pam in July 2016 was found to be in his possession of counterfeit
seal and two forged results bearing the name of one Chung Davou, dated
October 30, 2001 purported to have been issued by the University of Jos,
which the court said “he knew was forged and intended same to be
dishonestly used as genuine,” an offence which is punishable under
Section 368 of the Penal Code.
Baba was arraigned on 13-count charge bordering on cheating, forgery
and possession of counterfeit seal to commit forgery in employment scam.
The court noted that sometime in July, he dishonestly obtained the sum
of N1,595,000 (One Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand Naira
from one Rashida S. Umar and 72 (Seventy-two) others for the purpose of
procuring employment for them.
The prosecution counsel, A.Y. Muntaka proved his cases against the
convicts beyond reasonable doubt, leading Justice Jauro to pronounce
them guilty and convicted them as charged, but adjourned the case to
March 5, 2019 for sentencing. In another development, the Maiduguri
Zonal Office of the Commission also secured the conviction of one Bello
Yusuf for fraud.
Justice A. Y Sanya of the Borno State High court, sitting in
Maiduguri convicted Yusuf to 18 months imprisonment with an option of
fine in the sum of N10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira)
The defendant fraudulently collected the sum of N1,500,000.00 (One
Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Mohammed Abatcha as
payment for a purported sale of land, Plot No: 902, under the false
pretence that the said plot belongs to one Umar Ahaji Bukar Gaji.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Bello Yusuf, sometime in
June 2017, in Maiduguri Borno State within the jurisdiction of this
honourable court with intent to defraud did obtained the sum of N1,
500,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only from one
Mohammed Abatcha where you sold Plot No: 305 to him instead of Plot No:
902 situated at Polo on BOTP/159 Extension Layout behind Federal High
Court Maiduguri under the false pretence that the said Plot No: 902
belongs to one Umar Alhaji BukarGaji, which pretence you knew to be
false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) of
the Borno State Penal Code Laws CAP. 102 and punishable under section
322 of the same Law.”
Yusuf pleaded guilty to the charge. Counsel to the prosecution,
Halima Alhaji Shehu, therefore, prayed the court to convict him as
charged.
He was likewise convicted and sentenced.