SAN FRANCISCO, December 05, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court sitting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, has sentenced a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, John Babani Elias, to 10 years imprisonment for diverting state funds.
This came as a result of a corruption case brought against Elias, who also served as Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Adamawa, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Delivering judgement in the case against the former Commissioner and Al-Akim Investment Nig. Ltd a company he allegedly promoted along with Inuwa Bassi on Friday, Justice Bilkisu Aliyu acquitted Mr. Bassi for want of evidence, but sentenced John Babani Elias to 10 years imprisonment.
The judge, in her ruling on count No. 3 which nailed Elias and Al- Akim Investment Nig. Ltd., found the ex-Commissioner guilty of defrauding the Adamawa state government of N31,500,000 vide his company which he used to divert the said monies meant for the local government joint project.
Although, the court found the former Commissioner guilty of conspiracy to cause the payment of N21,000,000 vide Habib Bank Nig. Ltd, it however discharged and acquitted Inuwa Bassi, of the said count.
In addition John Elias Babani is to return N51,000,000 to the Adamawa state government joint account while his company (Al- Akim) shall pay the fine of N5,000,000 and also to be wound up immediately.
Elias is said to have been taken to Yola prison, but his counsel, Andrew Malgwi, of Rickey Tarfa Chambers, disclosed that his client will appeal the judgement because he was not comfortable with some aspects of the ruling.
