A former commissioner of finance in Adamawa state, John Elias
has been sentenced to 10-year in prison by a federal high court sitting
in Yola on Friday, December 4.
Elias bagged the jail term without an option of fine.
The Corporate Affairs Commission has been ordered by the presiding
judge, Justice Bilkisu Bello Aliyu, to shut down the
convict company,
ALHAKIM Nigeria Limited as well as retrieve the sum of N51.5 million
which he stole.
The judge who based his judgment on section 3(2) of the miscellaneous
act stating that the judgment will serve as a deterrent to occupiers
of public office who may been nursing the thought of stealing fund
meant for developmental projects.
The presiding judge explained that the convict ought to have
protected the trust bestow on him by living within the bound of the law
but decided to abuse the trust by helping himself with the resources of
the state.
Justice Aliyu convicted Elias on count 3 and 4 charges and imprisoned
him to 10-year on each charge but the two convictions will run
concurrently.
“I hereby sentenced the first accused, John Babani Elias for 10
years imprisonment on count 3 and another 10 years imprisonment on count
4 but the two sentences will run concurrently.
“In addition, the first convict must return/refund the sum of
N51.5 million to Adamawa state local Government joint account fund from
where it was stolen and diverted by him and his Coy.
“With regards to the second convict ALHAKIM NIGERIA LIMITED, I
sentenced it to pay a fine of N5 million on the offenses in count 3 and 4
it is convicted of. In addition, the company would wound up by
Corporate Affairs Commission as provided by section 3(2) of the
miscellaneous offenses and all its assets forfeited to federal
government of Nigeria,” Aliyu ordered.
Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district on Tuesday, December 1, had faulted the anti-graft war of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He challenged the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate the asset
declaration of other governors that served the same time as the Senate
president, Bukola Saraki.
No comments:
Post a Comment