Mama Boko Haram Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for ₦40m Fraud Scheme
Aisha Wakil, popularly known as Mama Boko Haram, has been handed a 10-year prison sentence by Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, alongside Tahiru Daura and Lawal Soyade. The conviction comes after the trio was found guilty of orchestrating a financial fraud scheme that duped victims of millions of Naira under false pretenses.
The conviction was disclosed by Dele Oyewale, the Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement released on Monday night.
The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC secured the conviction against Wakil and her associates for their involvement in a fraudulent transaction that saw them falsely obtain ₦15 million from Bukar Kachalla of Hamiza Global Resources Limited. The trio had purportedly promised to supply three units of Chemistry Analyser Solar Energy Brand Model 1800 (UK version), but failed to deliver on their promise.
According to the EFCC statement, the defendants were arraigned on Thursday, March 5, 2020, on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretense to the tune of ₦40 million.
Count two of the charge stipulates that their actions were in violation of Section (1) 1 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The charge against them reads, “That you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Alhaji Saidu Daura, and Prince Lawal Soyade whilst being the Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager, and Country Director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation, (a Non-Governmental Organisation) and Saidu Mukhtar (at large) sometime in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honorable court did with intent to defraud obtain the sum of ₦40 million from one Bashir Abubakar, the Chief Executive Officer of Duty-Free Shop Ltd under the false pretense of executing a purported contract for the supply of five X-ray Machines 1900 with Solar Energy which you knew to be false.”
Although the defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them, the prosecution counsel, A. I Arogha, presented four witnesses and tendered 17 exhibits before the court, leading to their conviction.
Justice Fadawu sentenced the defendants to 10 years imprisonment for the offence of conspiracy and another 10 years for the offence of obtaining by false pretense. Additionally, they were ordered to jointly and severally pay the sum of ₦40 million to Bashir Muhammad.
The prison terms are to run concurrently upon the expiration of all prison terms imposed on the convicts by any court, according to the ruling.
