The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Office on Thursday, October 17, 2019 secured the conviction of one Alhaji Umar Aji, (a.k.a Alhaji Tailor), before Honourable Justice Abubakar Jauro of the State High Court, Gombe, the state capital on a one-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust.
Aji faced prosecution by the Commission for obtaining money under the false pretence to the tune of N34,000,000.00 (Thirty Four Million Naira) from Alhaji Yahaya Umar Barambu, whom he had deceived to have invested the said sum on his behalf, but had dishonestly converted it to his personal use.
Count one reads: That you, Alhaji Umar Aji (a.k.a Alhaji Tailor), sometime in July, 2017 in Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently obtained the sum totaling N34,000,000.00 (Thirty Four Million Naira) from Alhaji Yahaya Umar Barambu through one Iliyasu Bello Abubakar by falsely representing that the said sum was to be utilized for Madrid Timber Business on behalf of Alhaji Yahaya Umar Barambu but dishonestly misappropriated the said sum and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 312 of the same laws.”
The convict pleaded guilty to the one count charge against him. In view of his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, S.E. Okemini, tendered 14 exhibits and closed his case, and urged the court to convict the defendant accordingly.
Justice Jauro convicted Aji for criminal breach of trust, contrary to Section 311 of Penal Code and punishable under 312 of the same law and sentenced him to three years imprisonment in Gombe Prison with an option of N100,000.00 fine.
Additionally, he is to make a restitution of N7,700,000.00 (Seven Million, Seven Hundred Thousand) to the complainant through the EFCC.