The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, secured the conviction of two men: Muhammad Abdullahi Kulloma, chairman of Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited and Alhaji Mamman Shuwa.
Muhammad Kulloma was sentenced to one year imprisonment and Alhaji Mamman Shuwa was sentenced to nine years imprisonment before Justice Umaru Fadawu of Borno State High Court, Maiduguri
Kulloma was prosecuted on one count amended charge of cheating to the tune of N19, 950,000.00 (Nineteen Million Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
The charge reads: “That you Muhammad Abdullahi Kulloma and Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited sometime in August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced one Abdulwahab Abba Aji to give you the sum of Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N19,950,000.00) only through your Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited Company account No. 0458028956 domiciled in GT Bank Plc.
“under the false pretense of executing a contract for the supply of water pumps awarded by Norwegian Refugee Council, a Non- Governmental Organization and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section 320 (a) and 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty and the matter went into full trial during which the prosecution invited several witnesses and tendered documents to prove the case against the defendant
Justice Fadawu found him guilty, convicted and sentenced him to a year imprisonment with an option of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira)
The judge ordered the company, Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited to pay a fine of N100, 000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira); and the convict is not to be released until his company pays the fine.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Mamman Shuwa was convicted and sentenced to nine years imprisonment before Justice Umaru Fadawu of Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on a three-count amended charge for obtaining money under false pretense to the tune of N2m (Two Million Naira).
Count one read: “That you, Alhaji Mamman Shuwa sometime in January 2021, at Maiduguri within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N2, 000,000.00 (Two Million Naira) only from Alhaji Musa Abdullahi of Abuja Sheraton.
”under the pretense that the said amount represent payment for the purchase of a purported plot of land N0. 525 on BOSA/153 laying and situated at Layin Hadiza, opposite Hadiza Memorial Primary and Secondary School, Abuja Sheraton Hotel, in Maiduguri Metropolitan Local Government Area (MMC), Borno State.
”Which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution invited several witnesses and tendered several documents to prove the case against the defendant.
Justice Fadawu convicted and sentenced him to nine years imprisonment without the option of a fine. The Judge ordered the convict to pay the sum of N2m to his victim or serve an additional five years prison term, in default.
Comments