In separate rulings, Justices H.H. Kereng of the Gombe State High Court and Muazu Abubakar of the Bauchi State High Court have convicted and sentenced Dabiet Onyemi Gilbert and Saleh Haruna to varying jail terms for fraud.
Gilbert, an employee of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), faced a one-count charge of obtaining N800,000 by false pretense. Prosecuted by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Gilbert pleaded guilty, leading to a one-year imprisonment sentence or an option to pay a N60,000 fine.
Haruna faced a two-count charge of forgery, pleading guilty to one of the charges. Justice Abubakar sentenced him to five years in prison or a fine of N200,000, with further proceedings on the second count adjourned to July 8, 2024.
Gilbert’s conviction stemmed from defrauding Akoh Daniel Accoustic by promising a non-existent job with the Nigerian Correctional Services. Haruna’s conviction followed allegations of conspiring with Mohammed Mustapha Sallah to defraud a petitioner of N950,000 for a landed property.
The EFCC has also arraigned Sallah on three counts of conspiracy, forgery, and intent to defraud. Sallah pleaded not guilty, and his case has been adjourned to July 8, 2024, for a bail hearing.
