MAN, 67 GETS 17 YR JAIL TERM FOR DIVERTING N3.5MILLION CATTLE MONEY

A 67 year old man, Aliyu Yuguda has been convicted and sentenced to 17 years imprisonment for diverting the sum of N3.556 million meant for buying and selling of cattle.

The Chief Magistrate Court I sitting in Yola, Adamawa State sentenced the Defendant after he was tried and found guilty on 2 count charges slammed against him by the Prosecution.

The Court presided by Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Mohammed Digil, convicted and sentenced the Defendant to 7 and 10 years respectively for the offences of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

However, the Convict was given N400, 000 option of fine for the 2 offences because he was said to be a 1st time offender and also ordered to pay the sum of N3.556 million compensation to the Complainants.

Earlier, the Prosecution informed the Court that the Convict who hails from Karewa GRA in Yola North Local Government Area was entrusted with the money he had diverted sometimes in the year 2021.

The Prosecution stated that Mallam Yunusa Ibrahim and Abdul Muni Bako of Karewa extention entrusted the Convict with the sum of N1.956 million and N1.6million respectively to buy and sell cattle which the profit to be shared at the end of every weekend.

It aveered that he breached the terms of agreement and converted all the amount to his personal gain contrary to sections 302 and 312 of the State Penal Code Law.

When the First Information Report was read to him on the 5th May, 2022, following an application by the Prosecutor, Inspector Sawe Nicholas who held the brief of ASP Francis Audu, the Convict admitted committing the offences.

It was after his admittance that the Prosecutor called 2 Witnesses who corroborated the Convict's guilt plea at the next adjourned sitting.

In his judgement, Chief Magistrate Digil, convicted and sentenced him accordingly based on his voluntary admission of guilt coupled with the testimonies of the Witnesses.

The Judge held that the Court was left with no option than to convict him as provided by law and  declared that the sentences are to run concurrently.