A Borno State High Court has sentenced Aisha Wakil, popularly called ‘Mama Boko Haram’, to five years imprisonment over fraud.
Maiduguri zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had re-arraigned Wakil alongside Tahiru Daura and Prince Shoyode in September 2020, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money the sum of N71,400,000 by false pretence.
They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, whilst being chief executive officer, programme manager and country director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (a non-governmental organisation), sometime in the year 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno state, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, induced one Saleh Ahmed Said of Shuad General Enterprises Ltd to deliver to you 3,000 bags of beans worth N71,400,000 under the false pretence of executing a contract for the supply of same, which you made the said Saleh Ahmed Said to believe that you had the capacity to pay the entire contract sum upon execution, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Sections 1(1) (b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
Prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ahmed, had during trial presented four witnesses and tendered several documents, which the court admitted as exhibits.
While delivering her judgment on Tuesday, Justice Aisha Kumaliya, held that the prosecution had proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt and therefore convicted them.
Justice Kumaliya then sentenced the defendants to five years imprisonment without any option of fine.
The court also ordered the convicts to pay the sum of N30,500,000 as compensation to the victim.
The judge, however, added in her ruling that if the convicts default in paying the fine, they would serve additional 10-year jail term.