A Borno State High Court in Maiduguri has sentenced Aisha Alkali Wakil, popularly known as Mama Boko Haram, along with Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, to 14 years in prison each. The judgment was delivered by Justice Aisha Kumaliya on Wednesday, June 25.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed the news in a statement released by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
The three were charged by the EFCC on September 14, 2020. The case involved a fraudulent claim of a contract worth ₦11 million. They were accused of collecting the money without doing any work.
According to the EFCC, “The defendants obtained the sum of ₦11 million from one Muhammed Ambare under the false pretence of executing a purported contract for the supply, installation, and servicing of two units of X-Ray Machine Model 1800, which they knew to be false.”
One of the counts reads:
“That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura, Prince Lawal Shoyode whilst being Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager, and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aids Foundation (Non-Governmental Organisation) and Saidu Mukhtar (now at large) sometime in July 2018 at Maiduguri… with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of ₦11 million from one Muhammed Ambare… under false pretence…”
According to the EFCC, the crime violated sections of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006. This law punishes people who deceive others to collect money.
Although the accused persons claimed they were innocent, the court ruled otherwise. During the trial, EFCC lawyers presented several documents and a witness who helped prove the fraud.
Justice Kumaliya sentenced them to seven years each on two charges, making it 14 years in total. However, the sentences will run at the same time. The court also ordered them to return ₦8 million to the person they defrauded. If they fail to pay, they will remain in prison for seven more years.
The EFCC explained that the group tricked a victim into paying ₦11 million into an account that was not even theirs. After receiving the money, they did nothing and refused to return the funds.
One other person involved in the scam, Saidu Mukhtar, has not been arrested and is still missing.
