The chairman of Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board, Murtala Adamu, was on Friday convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment by Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court Gusau Zamfara State for engaging in private business while in public service.
The convict was however given the option of fine of N200, 000.
The convict’s journey to prison started when the commission received a petition from Abdullahi Nakura who alleged that the convict refused to pay him and other contractors for jobs executed for the board.
Upon receipt of the petition, the EFCC said it investigated and found that apart from nonpayment for contracts, the convict was also in the habit of collecting kickbacks from contractors. It was further discovered that the convict also awarded contract to his own company.
In her judgment, Justice Zainab discharged and acquitted the convict on the 10-count corruption charge brought against him by the EFCC, but found him guilty of the offence of engaging in private business while still in Public Service.
Mr. Adamu is a former two-term House of Assembly member in Zamfara State. He was in the house between 2003 and 2011, after which he was appointed chairman of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board where he is now serving his second term.
One of the charge read that “You Murtala Adamu trading under the name and style of MJIE Enterprises ( while being the Executive Chairman of the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board) on or about 25th April, 2012, within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court disguised the origin of the sum of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira Only) paid by Alhaji Yusha’u Sokoto of Alkanci Furniture by way of receiving the said sum into an account you maintain in the name of MJIE Enterprises in Fidelity Bank which sum was derived directly from participation in corruption with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the money and you thereby committed an offense punishable under section 15(1)(a)(ii) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.”
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