Former Gusau varsity VC sentenced To 35 years in prison for N260m fraud

• Former Gusau Varsity VC sentenced 35-Year Prison Sentence for Alleged N260 Million Fraud
• He was found guilty on Thursday of five counts relating to obtaining money through forgery and false pretense

A former VC of the Federal University of Gusau, Professor Magaji Garba has been sentenced To 35 years in prison for N260m fraud.

He was found guilty on Thursday of five counts relating to obtaining money through forgery and false pretense by Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Garki, Abuja. The conviction was obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former VC was arraigned by the EFCC on October 12, 2021, for allegedly extorting various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him an N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the University.

The offense is contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

READ ALSO: Court jails former Vice Chancellor for N260m fraud

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Professor Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 15th of May, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretense of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing off the University valued at the total sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira) which representation/pretense you knew to be false”.

Count three reads: “That you, Professor Magji Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 1st August 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and fifty Million Naira from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contract executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the Federal University, Gusau under the false presence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing off the University valued at the total sum of N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira), which representation/ pretense you knew to be false”.

He had entered a “not guilty” plea to the allegations, which had prepared the way for a full trial. The EFCC ended its investigation on December 14, 2021, after calling numerous witnesses and submitting a large number of documents that were accepted as evidence.

The trial judge stated today that the prosecution’s case was proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and the court was satisfied with that finding.

On each of the five counts, Prof. Garba was found “guilty” and given a sentence of seven years in jail without the option of a fine for counts 1 through 3, and seven years in prison with the possibility of an N10 million fine for counts 4 and 5.

In other news, a High Court Sitting in Minna, the Niger State Capital, has issued a warrant of arrest on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Faruk Yahaya for contempt.

Also to be arrested include Commandant Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, and Major General Olugbenga Olabanji for a similar offense.

The presiding judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik said the order followed upon hearing on the motion on notice brought before the court pursuant to order forty-two rule ten of the Niger State High Court Civil procedure 2018.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the order is commuting Yahaya and Olabanji to be kept in Minna correctional custody for contentions of an order of this court on 12 October 2022.

According to her, the two suspects are to remain in custody until they purge themselves of contempt.