Gombe court jails businessman over N3.5m fraud
Justice Abdulhamid Yakubu of the Gombe State High Court has sentenced one Isiyaku Dahiru and his company, Zafran and Brothers Investment Limited, to 12 months imprisonment for obtaining the sum of N3,500,000 under false pretences.
The conviction followed their arraignment by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a one-count charge bordering on cheating and fraudulent conversion.
According to the charge, Dahiru and his company fraudulently obtained the sum from one Usman Ahmad, claiming it was payment for 50kg of 700 bags of salt, but converted it to their personal use, contravening Section 320 of the Penal Code Law punishable under Section 322 of the same law.
Upon their arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge.
In his plea for leniency, counsel to the defendant, Sani Rabiu, stated that Dahiru is a first-time offender who has shown remorse for his actions by restituting the money to the victim.
Following submissions from both counsels, Justice Yakubu convicted and sentenced Dahiru and his company to 12 months imprisonment.
The case originated from a complaint by a petitioner who alleged that Dahiru induced him to part with the sum of N3,500,000 for the supply of 700 bags of salt, which was never fulfilled nor refunded despite efforts.
