The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on Thursday, October 13, 2022, secured the conviction and sentencing of a fake property owner, Markus Badzavuwa before Justice Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court sitting in Damaturu.
He was jailed after pleading guilty to one-count charge, bordering on false information.
The lone count reads: “That you, Markus Badzavuwa, sometime in 2022 at Damaturu, Yobe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being legally bound to furnish true information on your activities in respect of a property located at 440 Housing Estate, Gujba Road, Damaturu traced to one Alhaji Idris Yahaya, the Local Governments Auditor General of Yobe State which was marked under investigation by Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the course of investigation furnishes the Commission with information which you know or has reason to believe to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 139 and 139 (b) of the Penal Code Laws of Yobe State.”
The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, when it was read to him.
Counsel for the prosecution, J. A. Ojogbane and Mukhtar Ali Ahmed prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged, while defence counsel, D. I Ndahi asked the court to temper justice with mercy and grant the defendant a lighter sentence.
Justice Lawan thereafter convicted and sentenced Badzavuwa to six months imprisonment.
The convict’s journey to the Correctional Centre started, when he falsely claimed ownership of a property at 440 Housing Estate, Gujba Road, Damaturu.
Investigation carried out by operatives of Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC revealed that the said house belonged to Alhaji Idris Yahaya, the Local Governments Auditor General of Yobe State and was marked “Under Investigation” by the EFCC.
In another development, the duo of Ahmed Yerima and Sallau Madaki were arraigned before Justice Lawan on an eight- count charge for the offences of conspiracy, forgery and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N 17,985,000.00 (Seventeen Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand Naira Only).
One of the charges reads : “That you, Ahmed Yerima, whilst being the Executive Chairman of Desix Integrated Services Limited, a company registered in Nigeria, Sallau Madaki, sometime in March 2009 at Damaturu, in Damaturu Judicial Division of the High Court, Yobe State, being entrusted with certain properties, to wit the sum of N54,800,000.00 (Fifty Four Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira Only) from Yobe State Government on behalf of Desix Integrated Services Limited, a company registered in Nigeria with one Ahmed Magaji as the Managing Director for the execution of a contract for the renovation of Yobe Television, Damaturu and supply of three vehicles worth N 15, 303,732.40( Fifteen Million, Three Hundred and Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Two Naira, Forty Kobo) awarded to the said Desix Integrated Services Limited by Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Damaturu, Yobe State did dishonestly misappropriated the entire sum of N 15, 800,000 (Fifteen Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira Only) out of the total sum of N54,800,000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Cap. 102 Laws of Yobe State of Nigeria and punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges, when they were read to him.
Counsel for the prosecution, J. A. Ojogbane and Mukhtar Ali Ahmed prayed the court for a trial date while counsel for the defendants, I.S Sa’ad asked the court to admit the defendants to bail pending the determination of the case.
Justice Lawan admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N5, 000, 000(Five Million Naira only) and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident in Damaturu and must have landed property worth N5million each, with the Certificate of Occupancy of the property deposited with the Registrar of the Court.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter till November 9, 2022 for commencement of trial.
Media & Publicity
14 October, 2022