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Tag: sentenced

  • Famzhi Interbiz MD sentenced to five years over N2b fraud

    Famzhi Interbiz MD sentenced to five years over N2b fraud

    Chairman and Managing Director of Famzhi Interbiz Limited, Mariam Suleiman, has been sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding investors of over N2 billion.

    A statement from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment, finding Suleiman and her company guilty on two counts brought against them by the Federal Government.

    In his ruling, Justice Ekwo stated: “Upon the provisions of Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act and Section 56(6) of the Securities and Investment Act being read to the defendants for understanding of the terms of punishment therein. And upon hearing the allocutus of the learned counsel for the defendants and considering the same, I am minded not to impose the full punishment on the first defendant (Suleiman) particularly.”

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    As a result, Suleiman was sentenced to three years in prison for the first count and two years for the second count, with both sentences to run concurrently.

    Also, Justice Ekwo ordered Famzhi Interbiz to be wound up and its property forfeited to the Federal Government. “The said property shall be sold and the proceeds thereof used to compensate the victims of this crime,” he declared.

    The SEC had previously disclaimed Famzhi Interbiz, warning the public that neither the company nor its products were registered or regulated by the Commission.

    Despite this, the company unlawfully solicited funds from the public, promising guaranteed returns on investments, which violated the Securities and Investment Act (ISA) 2007.

  • General sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for stealing $2.1m, N1.65b

    General sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for stealing $2.1m, N1.65b

    A Nigerian Army Special Court-martial sitting in Abuja yesterday sentenced a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj.-Gen. Umar Mohammed, to seven years’ imprisonment for stealing $2,178,900 and N1.65 billion belonging to the Nigerian Army Property Limited (NAPL).

    Mohammed was sentenced after the court found him guilty of 14 out of 18 count charges brought before the court, bordering on forgery, misappropriation of funds, conspiracy, among others.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to all the charges pressed against him.

    At the resumed sitting yesterday, when the judgment was pronounced, the eight-man panel, led by Maj.-Gen. James Myam, averred that the convicted senior military officer was found guilty in 14 out of the 18 charges.

    Myam said count one was brought under Section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. c38, Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and punishable under Section 390 (7) of the Act.

    He said the charge was also brought pursuant to Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20, 2004.

    The charges include stealing, for which Mohammed was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

    The convict is to return $1,045,400.000 to the Nigerian Army.

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    In counts one to six, Mohammed was charged with stealing and sentenced, on conviction, to five years’ imprisonment on each count and he is to return $1,045,400.000, $480,000, $85,400, $35,300, $55,500, and $46,500 to the Nigerian Army.

    On Count Seven, he was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit forgery but was found not guilty, discharged and acquitted.

    On Court Eight, the accused was charged with forgery, found guilty, and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, among others.

    The panel said the prosecution counsel called 24 witnesses, while the defendant called two witnesses.

    In its judgment, the panel ordered that the convict be jailed for five years for some of the offences while others are to carry seven and two years.

    It averred that the sentences would run concurrently and directed the convict to refund the stolen funds into the account of the NAPL.

    Myam said the sentences were subject to the confirmation of “confirming authority”.

    Before he was sentenced, Mohammed had reportedly been held in a military detention facility at Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja for some years.

    The defence counsel, Lekan Ojo (SAN), made an oral application that the convicted senior military officer be moved to Kuje Correctional Facility, but the panel declined the application.

  • Man sentenced to six months for stabbing

    A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja yesterday sentenced a 25-year-old man, Abba Yahaya, to six months’ imprisonment for stabbing Yahuza Safiyanu in the back.

    The judge, Mohammed Marafa, however, gave Yahaya an option of N20,000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crimes. He ordered him to pay N19,000 compensation to Safiyanu, failing which, he would serve additional three months in prison.

    Yahaya of Phase 3, Kubwa, Abuja, was convicted and sentenced for causing grievous hurt.

    Prosecutor Babajide Olanipekun told the court that Safiyanu of Kubwa, Abuja reported the matter at Kubwa Police Station on April 10.

    He said Yahaya acted in a violent manner and stabbed Safiyanu in the back without any provocation, causing him deep cuts.

    Olanipekun said Safiyanu was taken to Kubwa General Hospital and he spent N19,000 for treatment.

    He said the offence contravened Section 247 of the Penal Code.

    Yahaya pleaded guilty and begged the court for leniency, saying it was a mistake.

     

  • Man, 22, sentenced for receiving stolen phone

    An Oredo Magistrates’ Court sitting in Benin, the capital of Edo State, has sentenced a 22 year-old man, Kelvin Usifoh, to a six-month jail term for unlawfully buying a stolen Samsung X3 phone from one Abel Emmanuel.

    According to the prosecutor, Patrick Agbonifo, the phone which is valued at N40, 000 was bought by Usifoh on January 27, 2017 for N3, 000.

    Agonifo, who presented three witnesses, told the court the phone was stolen from one David Ebhohimen when Emmanuel and other members of his gang allegedly robbed one Patrick Ebhohimen on the same day at No. 4 Ogesoba Street off Asologun, off Power line, Benin City.

    The offence is said to be punishable under section 427 of the Criminal Code Cap. 48 Vol. II Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976 as now applicable in Edo State.

    The accused person, who pleaded not guilty on his first day of arraignment, was however sentenced by Chief Magistrate F.E Akhere to six months in prison or an option of N50, 000 fines.

     

  • Kano teacher sentenced to 14 years for defiling two pupils

    Kano teacher sentenced to 14 years for defiling two pupils

    Kano High Court has handed down a 14- year jail term to a private school headmaster, Ahmed Bello, for defiling two of his pupils.
    The convict, who resides at No 223, Kabuga quarters Kano, served as headmaster of De Emirates Academy where he lured two of his pupils, Hanifa Nasir, 6, and Zaharau Idris,7, into his office.
    According to the charge sheet, the convict sometimes in September, 2015 and February 2016 after successfully luring the victims into his office proceeded to insert his finger into their virginal.
    Kano state principal counsel, Barrister Bashir Sale, informed the court the convict acted in a manner that is tantamount to gross indecency.
    He noted the act committed by Bello was in contravention of the provisions of Section 285 of the Penal Code Law of Kano state as amended in 1991.
    The prosecution counsel summoned seven witnesses, who testified against the convict, before the court.
    However, the cat was let out of the bag when one of the victims reported to her mother, who reported the incident to the authorities, the court heard.
    Dr I. A Oricha, who is attached to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital Kano, reported the hymens of the victims have been ruptured after examination.
    Inspector Maryam Nurudeen of the Sexual and Other Related Offences of the Nigeria Police Force said she led a team of police officers assigned to investigate the matter.
    After the charges were read against him, the convict denied all allegations.
    Delivering his verdict, Justice Nasiru Samin, pronounced the accused guilty as charged.
    He sentenced Bello to 14 years in jail without an option of fine.
    Samin also ordered the convict to pay N50, 000 compensation to each of the victims as well as N50, 000 fines to the state.
    He warned the convict would proceed to serve another six months in jail if he defaults.

  • Commercial sex worker sentenced to death for murder of two-yr-old

    A commercial sex worker, Mercy Ogie, has been sentenced to death by an Ado Ekiti High Court after she was found guilty of murder.

    In a ruling delivered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, Ogie was convicted of killing a two year-old, Praise Ebong.

    Ogie was said to have conspired with one Efe to steal the baby at Irona area of Ado-Ekiti on November 26, 2011.

    The prosecution counsel, Olorunfemi Alabi, called five witnesses to prove the case against the accused person.

    Alabi, who is the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, told the court that the mother of the baby had left her child with one Damilola, while she travelled to Ikere-Ekiti.

    On her return, the boy’s mother learnt that one Efe had taken away Praise on the pretext of buying him biscuits in the neighbourhood.

    The prosecution also revealed that evidence proved that Efe was Mercy Ogie’s lover and not her son as believed in some quarters.

    Alabi testified that when Efe was contacted on the telephone, he admitted that it was Ogie that sent him to steal the child and that the boy (Praise) had been sold off, an allegation the accused neither denied nor confirmed.

    In her defence, Ogie explained that Efe was her live-in lover.

    The defense counsel, Chris Omokhafe, denied that Ogie conspired with Efe to steal or murder Praise.

    Omokhafe contended that none of the prosecution witnesses established evidence that the missing child, Praise, was dead but that the child was taken away by Efe.

    Justice Daramola said an accused person can be convicted for murder even if the body of a victim was not found and that there is enough compelling circumstantial evidence that the accused person killed the deceased.

    Justice Daramola was of the opinion that circumstantial evidence may be a combination of circumstances against the accused, none of which if taken, can form cogent proof of guilt, but when taken together, create strong conclusion of guilt “with a high degree of mathematical accuracy.”

    The presiding judge held that the accused defences were characterised by “tissue of lies, inconsistencies and self-contradictions”.

    Justice Daramola, who found Ogie guilty of the charge, consequently sentenced her to death by hanging.

  • Chinese pastor sentenced to 12 years in prison

    The Christian pastor of a church in Henan province has been jailed for 12 years by the Chinese courts.

    Zhang Shaojie, who leads the Nanle County Christian Church, was found guilty of fraud and of “gathering crowds to disturb public order” on Friday.

    His lawyer contends that the pastor is innocent, but “was targeted by authorities who are trying to control the fast growth of churches”.

    Shaojie and 23 members of his church were first detained last year as a result of a land dispute with local authorities but supporters insist that they are being persecuted by the government and are innocent of all charges.

    “This case shows the Chinese government continues to cover up religious persecution with fabricated criminal charges against an innocent church leader,” Bob Fu, the head of US-based Christian group China Aid, told The Telegraph.

    “Total fabricated charges!” he tweeted, following Shaojie’s sentence this morning.

    “I strongly believe Zhang Shaojie is innocent. This is a total set-up by the local government,” warned lawyer Liu Weiguo who has previously worked with the church leader.

    Although the right to freedom of religious belief is guaranteed under Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution, that protection is limited to those who worship within state-sanctioned religious bodies.

    Those who choose to practise their faith outside of these, or whose beliefs are not officially recognised by the government, are at constant risk of being accused of participating in illegal activities, which carries heavy punishment.

  • Illegal varsity proprietor sentenced to five-year imprisonment

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has recorded a major feat in its fight against illegal universities.

    Francis John Agbo, the proprietor of illegal Middle Belt University and North Central University, was convicted on a two-count charge of impersonation and forgery.

    He was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment without an option of fine by Mr Ali Tari Changbo of the Upper Area Court, Keffi, Nasarawa State.

    Agbo was said to have posed as the Director of Research and Innovation of the NUC.

    The convict also claimed to be a senior academic official of the Nasarawa State University, Lafia, and defrauded unsuspecting admission seekers.

    A bulletin of the NUC made available to The Nation yesterday by the commission’s Chief Information Officer, Mrs. Bukola Olatunji, listed the evidence tendered before the court by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aaron Zamani, a Legal Officer in NUC.

    These include fake admission letters and fliers advertising the Nasarawa State University, Lafia; testimonies of witnesses, including victims; the accused’s claim of being the Coordinator of the university’s Nyanya Study Centre; tellers of a new generation bank as well as those of Aso Savings and Loans, Oturkpo branch, Benue State, bearing his name and that of his wife.

    The prosecution tendered 12 exhibits and they were admitted by the court.

    The accused had jumped bail granted him during trials on related charges at an Abuja High Court and the Chief Magistrate Court, Oturkpo, Benue State. This prompted the issuance of bench warrants against him.

    The presiding Magistrate said the evidence against Agbo was glaring, including those by Blessing Peter, one of his victims.

    Miss Peter said she met the accused at different locations, such as Nyanya Primary School, as he had no permanent address.

    He had also failed to issue receipts to the victims for the payments they made to him.

    Agbo was said to have collected between N8,500 and N45,000 for admission forms and school fees from his victims.

    The evidence showed that more than N100,000 was extorted from four victims, who testified before the court.