The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Gombe Zonal office has secured the conviction of one Usman Muhammad Dajji before Justice Sa’ad Muhammad of the Gombe State High Court on two count charge bordering on cheating.
The convict being an official of Gombe State Sharia Court of Appeal staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society was investigated by the EFCC in February, 2017 following a petition by one Sani Abdullahi of Samomosco Nigeria Limited, Gombe,.
Abdullahi, in his petition said the company which specialises in computer supplies and accessories, was approached in December, 2013 with a contract proposal to supply 3000 Units of Computer Laptop to the Sharia Court of Appeal Cooperative Society with a condition that he must pay the sum of N550,000.00 as commitement and processing fee before the execution of the contract.
The money was paid after being convinced as all documents relating to the contract were presented, unknown to AAbdullahi that the convict forged the official stamp of the Chief Registrar Sharia Court of Appeal, Gombe and the signature of one Abubakar Aliyu the Cooperative Society ‘s Treasurer, for the furtherance of his dubious activities and diverted the said sum to his personal used.
Count one of the charge read That you, USMAN MUHAMMED DAJJI while being the Chairman of Gombe State Sharia Court of Appeal Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society, and in such capacity, sometimes in December, 2013 or thereabout at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did fraudulently induce one Sani Abdullahi the Sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N550,000.00) under a disguise of facilitating Irrevocable Standing Order from the Office of Accountant General of Gombe State in favour of Samomasco Nigeria Limited which you never did, instead diverted same to your personal used and thereby committed an offence of Cheating contrary to the provisions of Section 320 (a) and (b) of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.
When the charge was read to him, he pleaded guilty instantly. In view of that, the prosecution counsel, S.M. Aliyu urged the court to convict him and sentence him according to law.
In his judgement, Justice Sa’ad pronounced the accuse person guilty as charged, convicted and sentence him to six months imprisonment for the two count charge. He however gave him an option of N30,000 fine.
