Photo: Idris Yahaya, the convict.
Yobe auditor-general bags 5 years jail term for N20m fraud
A Yobe State High Court on Monday sentenced Alhaji Idris Yahaya, the state’s Auditor General for Local Government, to five years in prison.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge, Justice Muhammad Lawan, held that the prosecution had proved the case against the defendant and convicted him as charged.
He, therefore,sentenced him to five years imprisonment with an option of fine.
The Judge ordered the convict to pay the sum of N10, 100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) as restitution to the state government through the EFCC or serve additional two years in prison.
Periscope International recalls that the convict was first arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on November 9, 2022, on a one-count of criminal misappropriation to the tune of Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N19, 900,000.00).
Yahaya was said to have received funds from the Office of the state Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of the money to his personal use.
The one count charge reads: ”That you, Yahaya Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, between the 20th to 21st day of May, 2017 at Damaturu, Yobe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.
“Received the sum of N19,900,000.00 via your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc for the purchase of a brand new Toyota Corolla 2015 Model, did dishonestly misappropriated the gross sum of N10,100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only.”
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge, setting the stage for his full trial, which culminated in his conviction and sentencing.
In the course of the trial, the counsel for the EFCC, Mukhtar Ahmed, called four witnesses and tendered documents, which were admitted in evidence.
