190 
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentencing of Abdulmumini Ali before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy to the tune of N420, 000.00 (Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) .
The defendants were alleged to have collected the said sum from the nominal complainant to purchase a piece of land but converted the money to their personal use.
The convict was first arraigned alongside Abor Gambomi on September 28th, 2021 and they pleaded not guilty to the two count amended charge, setting the stage for trial with the prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, calling one witness and tendering several documents that were admitted in evidence before the court.
Count one reads: โโThat you, Abor Gambomi, sometime in March 2019 at Maiduguri, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain N420, 000.00 (Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) from Mustapha Shettima Wakil under the pretence that the said amount represent payment for the purchase of a purported plot of land at No. 127 BOTP/72 Pompomari Residential Layout, Maiduguri Borno State which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.โโ
Count two reads: โThat you, Abdulmuni Ali sometimes in March 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, induced Mustapha Shettima to deliver to you the sum of N 420,000.00 (Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) under the guise that the said amount represent payment for the purchase of a purported plot of land No 85 measuring 50ft by 100ft laying and situated at Njimtilo, Konduga Local Government Area and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) and Punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.โ
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, Ali pleaded โguiltyโ to a further amended charge prepared against him by the EFCC.
Justice Kumaliya thereafter convicted Ali and sentenced him to six months imprisonment with the option of N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira) fine.
The judge adjourned till May 1, 2022 for continuation of trial of the first defendant.
