The Auditor-General for Local Government in Yobe State, Alhaji Yahaya Lawal Idris, has been sentenced to five years in prison for criminal misappropriation involving N10.1 million.
Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court delivered the judgment on Monday, March 13, 2023, after finding Idris guilty of the offence brought against him by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the EFCC, Idris received N19.9 million from the Local Government Audit Account for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla.
The anti-graft agency alleged that he diverted ₦10.1 million from the funds for personal use.
The charge stated that between May 20 and 21, 2017, in Damaturu, Yobe State, Idris received the N19.9 million through his personal account with United Bank for Africa (UBA), from an account belonging to the Local Government Audit Office domiciled with Fidelity Bank.
It was further alleged that he dishonestly misappropriated ₦10.1 million from the amount meant for the purchase of the official vehicle.
Idris was first arraigned before the court on November 9, 2022, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. His plea consequently led to a full trial, during which EFCC counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed, called four witnesses and tendered documentary evidence, which was admitted by the court.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Lawan held that the prosecution had established its case against the defendant and consequently convicted him as charged.
The judge sentenced Idris to five years’ imprisonment, with an option of fine. He also ordered the convict to pay ₦10.1 million in restitution to the Yobe State Government through the EFCC.
Justice Lawan further ruled that failure to make the restitution would attract an additional two-year prison term.
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