Alhaji Idris Yahaya, the Auditor General for Local Government in Yobe state, was found guilty of criminal misappropriation of funds totaling N19.9 million and was sentenced to five years in prison for his crimes.
According to a press statement released on Monday in Abuja by Wilson Uwujaren, Head of Media and Publicity for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
On a one-count charge of criminal misappropriation to the tune of N19.9 million, Alhaji Yahaya was found guilty by Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court. This charge was preferred against him by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Commission. Alhaji Yahaya was sentenced to life in prison.
He stated that the convicted individual had obtained funds from the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe state, for the purpose of purchasing an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, but that the individual had misused a portion of those funds for his own benefit.
The spokesperson for the prosecution said that one of the counts of the indictment read as follows: “That you, Yahaya Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe state, between May 20 and 21, 2017 at Damaturu, Yobe state, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, received the sum of N19,900,000 via your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in UBA from the Local Government
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Uwujaren reported that the convicted individual, who was initially arraigned on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, thereby paving the way for his trial to take place.
“During the course of the trial, Counsel for the EFCC, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence,” he went on to say afterward. “He also presented documents which were admitted in evidence.”
“In delivering judgment today, Justice Lawan held that the prosecution has proved the case against the defendant and convicted him as charged,” stated the spokesperson. “The prosecution has proven their case against the defendant.” As a result, he handed down a verdict of five years in prison with the possibility of paying a fine instead.
“The Judge further directed the convict to pay the sum of N10,100,000 restitution to Yobe state government through the EFCC or serve additional time in prison for an additional two years.
