3rd February, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
In a verdict that will be considered worse than a slap on the wrist, a judge of Gombe High Court, Justice Abdul Hamid has asked an accused, Rose Dogara Silas Gyar to pay N20 ( twenty naira) to avoid going to jail for three years after convicting her one-count charge bordering on N3 million fraud.
Gyar was arraigned before Justice Hamid by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for duping one Saifullahi Sani Abdullahi of the sum of N3 million in the guise of helping him to obtain a loan under the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Anchor Borrowers Programme.
Gyar and one Mohammad Babayo Maina told Abdullahi that they would enrol him in CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ programme for farmers with a promise that he would receive funding and farm input from the apex bank.
According to the charges filed in court by EFCC, Gyar and her accomplice demanded N3 million as collateral for the loan.
However, Abdullahi dragged them to EFCC when he did not get anything from the CBN and could not get a refund from Gyar and her accomplice.
Gyar was arraigned on one.-count charge bordering on cheating to the tune of N3,000,000.00 contrary to Section 322 of the Penal Code.
She pleaded “guilty” to the charge when it was read to her, upon which prosecution counsel, M.D Aliyu prayed the court to convict and sentence her accordingly.
However, the defence counsel, S.O Kumu pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, saying his client has shown remorse and has fully restituted the proceeds of crime to her victim.
Justice Hamid convicted and sentenced her to three years imprisonment with an option of a fine of N20,000( Twenty Naira only).
In another development, EFCC operatives from the Gombe Zonal Command have arrested one Yusufu Tanimu for Automated Teller Machine, ATM, card fraud in the state capital.
Tanimu was arrested following actionable intelligence on his suspected involvement in ATM card fraud in Ecobank Plc.
Items recovered from him at the point of his arrest include: 33 ATM cards, belonging to different banks, a Techno phone and an ATM card holder.
He would be charged to court as soon as investigation on his activities is concluded.