Zamfara state official jailed 29 years for diverting fertilizer

A High Court in Katsina State has sentenced a man, Nasiru Gusau (alias Nasiru Succer) to 29 years imprisonment for diverting seven trucks or 4, 200 bags of fertilizer in Yola, Adamawa State.

Mr. Gusau, a staff of the federal ministry of finance Gusau, Zamfara State was sentenced on a 9-count charge bordering on forgery and criminal breach of trust preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The fertilizer, the EFCC said was meant to be delivered to Adamawa for the state’s use.

Count one of the charges read, “That you Nasiru Yahaya ‘M’ on or about the 14th day of March, 2011 at Funtua within the Judicial Division of the High court of Justice Katsina state being entrusted with certain property, to wit; 1, 800 bags of fertilizer worth the sum of Nine Million Naira only by Ibrahim Dogo, did commit criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 311 of the Penal Code”.

The accused however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The judge, Abdullahi Yusuf, in his ruling said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found the accused guilty of all the nine count charges, and therefore sentenced him to 4 years each on counts 1 and 2 and a fine of N1m; and 3 years each on counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Mr. Gusau is also due to be arraigned on another charge bordering on fraud by the EFCC. He was served with the fresh information moments after he was convicted by Mr. Yusuf.

The anti-graft agency is challenging the acquittal of the convict by Justice Bello Muhammed of Zamfara State High Court in another matter where he was docked for alleged diversion of 36 trucks of fertilizer worth N68, 000,000 for personal use.

Credit: Premium Times