LG Caretaker Chair, Finance Director Jailed Over N54m Contract Fraud
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that Justice E. Gakko of the Federal High Court sitting in Birnin-Kebbi has convicted the Sole Administrator and Caretaker Chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Mr. Abubakar Bawa Makuku, and the Director of Finance and Supply, Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, for contract fraud and abuse of office involving N54 million.
The duo were found guilty on multiple counts, including abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and financial misconduct.
During the trial, the court heard that Makuku corruptly awarded contracts without following due process and diverted N10 million intended for official local government activities for personal gain.
One of the charges against Fakai stated:
“That you, Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, in June 2016 or thereabouts, at Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while serving as Director of Finance and Supply, withdrew a total of N54,000,000.00 (Fifty-Four Million Naira) from the Sakaba Local Government bank account at First Bank Nigeria Plc in six tranches of N9,000,000.00 each, with the intent to avoid the legal duty of reporting the said sum, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 19(1)(c) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another charge against Makuku read:
“That you, Abubakar Bawa Makuku, in May 2016 or thereabouts, at Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while serving as Sole Administrator, used your office to confer corrupt advantage upon yourself by receiving N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) in cash from the Finance and Supply office of Sakaba Local Government. The funds were designated for official government activities but were not utilised for their intended purpose, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, Justice Gakko, in his ruling, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and accordingly convicted them.
Fakai was sentenced to three years in prison or a fine of N2.5 million. Makuku received a four-year prison term or an option of a fine totalling N2.5 million — comprising N1 million as compensation to Sakaba Local Government and an additional N1.5 million.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in a statement on Friday by its Director of Public Enlightenment and spokesperson, Demola Bakare, confirmed the convictions. The ICPC noted that during the trial, its counsel, Mr. Hamza Sani, presented evidence showing that Fakai withdrew N54 million from the LG’s coffers in six tranches of N9 million each in a deliberate effort to sidestep financial reporting requirements.
