Wakil misappropriated the gross sum of N10,100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira
Alhaji Idris Yahaya, the Auditor General for
Local Government, Yobe State, is to spend five years in prison, following his
conviction today, Monday, March 13, 2023, by Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan of the
Yobe State High Court.
He was convicted after being pronounced guilty
of a one count of criminal misappropriation to the tune of Nineteen Million,
Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N19, 900,000.00) preferred against them by the
Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Yahaya received funds from the Office of the
Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe State, for the
purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of
the money to his personal use.
The one count charge reads: ''That you, Yahaya
Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State,
between the 20th to 21st day of May, 2017 at Damaturu, Yobe State within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, received the sum of N19,900,000.00 via
your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris
domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit
Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc for the purchase of a
brand new Toyota Corolla 2015 Model, did dishonestly misappropriated the gross
sum of N10,100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only.”
The convict who was first arraigned on
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the
stage for his full trial. In the course of the trial, counsel for the EFCC,
Mukhtar Ali Ahmed called four witnesses and tendered documents which were
admitted in evidence.
Delivering judgment today, Justice Lawan held
that the prosecution has proved the case against the defendant and convicted
him as charged. He consequently sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment with an
option of fine.
The Judge further directed the convict to pay the sum of N10, 100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) in restitution to Yobe State Government through the EFCC or serve additional two years in prison.
