Justice Fadima Aminu of the Federal High Court, Gusau, Zamfara State on November 2, 2018, convicted a serving member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Honorable Lawali Attahiru, representing kauran Namoda Constituency, for criminal breach of trust, and fraudulently supply of medical equipment to Zamfara State Ministry of Health.
Trouble started for the convict when the EFCC received a petition from the complainant who alleged that the convict awarded him a contract for the supply of medical facilities but after supply was made, the convict refused to pay him.
Investigations however revealed that the purported contract was fraudulently non existent but supported by many forged document to deceive and defraud the complainant. Upon arraignment on the 17th of October 2018, the convict pleaded not guilty to the seven count charge and the matter was then adjourned to the 1st of November, 2018 for the commencement of trial.
However, before the trial date, the defendant approached the EFCC with a plea bargain proposal which was accepted by the Commission. The plea bargain agreement dated 30th October, 2018 was adopted by both parties when the matter came up on the 1st of November and counsel for the defendant, Jafar Shehu, then urged the court to accept the conditions therein in sentecing his client.
Shehu also informed the court that his client has made full repayment of the money involved to the complainant. Prosecution counsel, Douglas Gift, did not oppose the prayer of the defense but urge the court to tamper justice judiciously and judicially.
Based on the plea bargain agreement, the convict changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to the seven count charge.
In view of his latest plea, Justice Aminu convicted the defendant accordingly. In her ruling, she considers the remorsefulness of the convict and the fact that he did not waste the time of the court and has made full restitution of the money involved to the complainant, before sentencing him to pay fine in the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira Only) into the treasury single account of the federal government.
One of the charge read “That you Lawali Attahiru on or about the 3rd day of December 2012 in gusau within the Jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of #2.700.000.00 from Hamisu Saminu Jibrin through your fidelity bank account No. 53336100432 being payment for medical equipment which you claimed to have supplied to zamfara stae ministry health in a contract which you sold him, which presence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
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