Court convicts businessman, two others over N1.3m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Maiduguri office has secured the conviction of Umar Ali Kaka, before Justice Fadawu Umar of the State High Court sitting in Maiduguri, Borno.

Kaka is expected to spend two years in jail though he has an option of fine.

In a statement issued by EFCC’s acting Head of Media and Publicity, Tony Orilade, on Tuesday, it said “the convict was arraigned on a one-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N16,000,000 (Sixteen Million Naira) only as a result of a criminal complaint  reported against the convict by one Ibrahim Garba Usman.

“Kaka sometimes in 2017 called the complainant via mobile phone and informed him that a contract was awarded to Today’s Super Market Stores for the supply of food stuffs and other goods to Non Governmental Organizations. He said the sum of N16, 000, 000 (Sixteen Million Naira) would be required to execute the job.

“The convict assured the complainant that, if he invests the said N16 million it would earn him a profit of N1.5million in less than 30 days of the investment. Upon this presentation, the complainant agreed and transferred the said N16million.

“In the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, Khalid Sanusi presented seven witnesses and tendered twelve exhibits which were marked and admitted by the court.

“While delivering his judgement, Justice Umar stated that, ‘On the whole, I hold that the prosecution has proved the offence of cheating on you Umar Ali Kaka and consequently this court finds you guilty and you are convicted accordingly.’

M. Makinta, Counsel to the convict, pleaded for leniency, and urged the court to temper justice with mercy as he is a first time offender.

According to Makinta, “the convict has shown remorse. He undertook not to commit such crime in the future.”

“After listening to the pleas made by the convict and his counsel, Justice Umar while sentencing him said “based on Sec. 322 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State Cap 102 vol. 94, I hereby sentence you, Umar Ali Kaka to two years imprisonment for the offence of cheating with an option of fine in the sum of N 500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only,” the statement added.