[NEWS] COURT CONVICTS MAN FOR N.7M FRAUD
The Kaduna Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has secured the conviction of one Salisu Kabiru Abdulsalam before Justice M.T Tukur of Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna, on one count of cheating.
The convict sometime in October 2018, allegedly approached the complainant, with a proposition to supply a total of 11 tons and 580kg of waste paper carton to Nixin Paper Mill Nigeria Limited, Ibadan on his behalf with the understanding that he will receive payment and remit same to the supplier. After the supply, the defendant received the sum of N752,000 from Nixin Paper Mill Nigeria Limited but only remitted the sum of N50, 000 to the complainant and diverted the balance to personal use.
The amended one count charge reads “That you, Salisu Kabiru Abdulsalam on or about the 11th Day of October, 2018 at Kaduna within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kaduna State, dishonestly induced one Samzila Boy I to deliver to you waste product of paper material weighing about 11tons and 580kg with the believe that you shall pay the sum of N702,000( seven hundred and two thousand Naira) only as value for the property, which you did not mean to pay and thereby committed cheating, an offence contrary to Section 320 (a) of the Penal Code Law Cap.89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963 and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law”.
He pleaded guilty to the charge. Consequently, prosecution counsel, M.E Eimonye urged the court to convict the defendant in line with the plea bargain agreement between the parties.
The defence counsel, E.C Aneme aligned himself with the prosecution but pleaded with the court to be lenient with the convict as he has been remorseful and had started paying restitution to the victim of the crime.
Justice Tukur haven considered all submissions of the parties, sentenced the defendant to three years imprisonment with option of N200, 000.00 fine. In addition the convict is to pay the nominal complainant restitution in three trenches. Should he fails to comply with the order, the convict will spend an additional one year in prison.
