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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Maiduguri zonal office, has on Friday, June 28, 2019 secured the conviction and sentencing of one Mustapha Baba Kura before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on a one count charge bordering on cheating to the tune of N6, 000, 000 (Six Million Naira) only.
His journey to the prison started when the Commission received a petition against him to the effect that Kura deceived the nominal complainant into paying a total sum of N6, 000, 000 for the supply of chalk flour to one Shehu Saidu, a Lagos-based flour dealer.
The nominal complainant after agreeing on the terms with Shehu, transferred the sum of N5, 400, 000 (Five Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) to him for the supply of 600 bags of chalk flour at N9, 000 (Nine Thousand Naira) per bag.
After the arrival of the goods, the complainant paid the balance of N600, 000 (Six Hundred Thousand Naira) as the transportation cost.
Kura asked Shehu to transfer the said sum to him and there by diverted to his personal use.
The count reads, โThat you, Mustapha Baba Kura sometime in April, 2017 in Maiduguri, within the judicial division of the High Court of Justice of Borno State with intent to defraud, cheated Babagana Mamman Gadai by deceiving him to part with the sum of Six Million Naira (N6,000, 000) under the pretence of purchasing 600 bags of flour at N9,000 per bag which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Law Cap 102, Laws of Borno State.โ
He pleaded not guilty to the one count charge.
During the cause of the trial, prosecution counsel, Benjamin Manji called a total number of seven witnesses and tendered seventeen exhibits, in order to prove his case.
While reading her judgement, Justice Kumaliya found him guilty on the one count charge for the offence of cheating, which is contrary to section 320 and punishable under section 322 of the penal code a law cap 102, Laws of Borno State.
During alocutos, the convict pleaded for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter sentenced him to three months imprisonment with an option of fine in the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000). She further ordered the convict to restitute the nominal complainant N4, 300, 000 million or to serve five years jail term.
