Justice Abdulhamid Yakubu of the Gombe State High Court
Gombe, on February 12, 2024 convicted and sentenced one Isiyaku Dahiru
and his company, Zafran and Brothers Investment Limited to twelve (12) months
imprisonment for obtaining the sum of N3,500 000.00 (Three Million, Five
Hundred Thousand Naira) under false pretences.
Dahiru and his company were arraigned on a one- count charge
bordering on cheating and fraudulent conversion by the Gombe Zonal
Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The charge reads: "That you Isiyaku Dahiru and Zafran
& Brothers Investment Ltd on or about 18th April, 2022 in Gombe, Gombe
State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently took
the sum of N3,500 000.00 (Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira)
property of Usman Ahmad, which you claimed was payment for 50kg of 700
bags of salt but converted same to your personal use and thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under
Section 322 of the same law."
Upon arraignment, the defendant and his company pleaded
guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
Based on their plea of guilty, prosecutor counsel, S.E
Okemini prayed the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
However, counsel to the defendant, Sani Rabiu pleaded with the court to
temper justice with mercy "as the defendant is a first- time offender who
is remorseful for his actions and has restituted the money to the victim of
crime.
Justice Yakubu, having listened to both prosecution and
defense counsels, convicted and sentenced Dahiru and his company, Zafran and
Brothers Investment LTD to twelve (12) months imprisonment.
Dahiru’s journey to the Correctional Centre began when
a petitioner alleged that he induced him to part with the sum
of N3,500,000.00 paid into his company account for the supply of 700 bags
of salt.
Every effort of the petitioner to get the supply or refund of his money proved abortive.
