Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri, on Wednesday sentenced one Bashir Ali to six months in prison for fraud.
Ali was arraigned following a petition EFCC from Dr. Yazeed Kolo, CEO, Tanya Agro-Vet Consult Limited, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in which he alleged that Ali, who was a staff of the company, made sales of livestock feeds and drugs to the tune of N484, 600, which he converted to personal use.
He was therefore docked on a one-count charge of misappropriation.
The charge read, “That you, Bashir Ali sometime in 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, being entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: N484,600.00 to Tanya Afro-Vet Consult Limited being the proceeds of sales of livestock feeds and drugs, did dishonestly misappropriate the entire sum and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Laws of Borno State Cap 102 Vol.3 0f 1994 and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.”
Ali pleaded guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, Benjamin Lawal Manji, to pray the court for sentencing, while defence counsel, M.H Myshelia, pleaded for leniency.
Justice Kumaliye consequently sentenced Ali to six months imprisonment with N20,000 fine option. The convict was also ordered to pay up the outstanding balance of N154, 600 to his former employer, failure of which he would spend six years in prison.