The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully secured the conviction of Bukar Muhammad on September 12, 2023. Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sentenced him to one year in prison for defrauding a victim of over N43 million.
Initially arraigned on September 7, 2021, on charges of obtaining by false pretence, Muhammad was later re-arraigned on an amended charge of criminal breach of trust. The case arose from a petition by Alhaji Ali Mohammed, who alleged that he entrusted Muhammad with the substantial sum for safekeeping, only for the defendant to convert it for his personal use.
The charge stated: “That you, Bukar Muhammad, sometime in 2018 in Maiduguri, fraudulently induced Alhaji Ali Mohammed to deliver to you funds amounting to N43,328,000.00 under the pretense of safekeeping, which you knew to be false.”
Despite pleading ‘not guilty,’ the trial proceeded, with the prosecution, led by Mukhtar Ali Ahmed and S.O. Saka, presenting three witnesses and submitting three exhibits as evidence.
Justice Kumaliya ultimately found Muhammad guilty, imposing a fine of N200,000.00 or a one-year prison term. Additionally, he was ordered to repay N13,234,100 to his victim or face an extra seven years in prison.
In a separate case, Musa Bello was also convicted by Justice Umaru Fadawu for cheating to the tune of N1,300,000.00. He induced Aminu Ahmed and others by falsely claiming to facilitate food distribution from the NGO Save the Children. Pleading guilty, Bello was sentenced to one year in prison, with a N200,000.00 fine option.
