Local Govt Chairman, Finance Director Jailed For N54Million Contract Fraud
Local Govt Chairman, Finance Director Jailed For N54Million Contract Fraud
The duo was found guilty by Justice E. Gakko of the Federal High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi on multiple charges bordering on abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and financial misconduct, according to a statement released by the ICPC on Friday.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Abubakar Bawa Makuku, Sole Administrator and Caretaker Chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area in Kebbi State, and Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, Director of Finance and Supply of the same council, over a N54 million contract fraud.
The duo was found guilty by Justice E. Gakko of the Federal High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi on multiple charges bordering on abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and financial misconduct, according to a statement released by the ICPC on Friday.
During the trial, ICPC’s prosecution counsel, Hamza Sani, told the court that Fakai unlawfully withdrew N54 million from Sakaba Local Government’s account in six separate transactions of N9 million each, according to a statement on Friday, signed by Demola Bakare, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education and spokesperson for the Commission.
This was described as a deliberate attempt to evade financial reporting protocols.
The court also heard that Makuku, as caretaker chairman, awarded phony contracts without due process and personally pocketed N10 million meant for official government functions.
One of the charges against Fakai read: “That you, Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, in June 2016 or thereabout, at Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while serving as Director of Finance and Supply, withdrew a total of N54,000,000.00 from the Sakaba Local Government bank account at First Bank Nigeria Plc in six tranches of N9,000,000.00 each, with the intent to avoid the legal duty of reporting the said sum, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 19(1)(c) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another charge accused Makuku of using his office for corrupt enrichment, stating that he received N10 million from the Finance Department of the council under the guise of official expenditure but failed to utilize it for the intended purpose.
Despite both defendants pleading not guilty, Justice Gakko found them guilty on all counts after reviewing the evidence presented by ICPC.
In the judgment, Fakai was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with an option to pay a fine of N2.5 million, while Makuku received four years’ imprisonment or a total fine of N2.5 million, which includes N1 million in compensation to Sakaba Local Government.
The ICPC said the conviction reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that public officials who divert public funds face the full weight of the law, stressing that corruption at the local government level continues to rob communities of basic development projects.
“This judgment underscores ICPC’s resolve to ensure that public officers who betray the trust of their offices for personal gain are brought to justice in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
