Magaji Garba, an ex-VC of the Federal University Gusau
(FUGUS), has been sentenced to 35 years imprisonment for over N260 million in
fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured
Garba’s conviction on Wednesday in Abuja.
Maryam Hassan Aliyu, a judge of the FCT high court in Garki
found the former vice-chancellor guilty of a five-count charge bordering on
obtaining money by false pretense and forgery.
Garba was arraigned by the EFCC on October 12, 2021, for allegedly extorting various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him N3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the university.
The offense is contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable
under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences
Act, 2006.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Professor Magaji
Garba, whilst being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about
the 15th of May, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the
Federal Capital Territory Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of
N100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing
Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contractor
executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal
University, Gusau under the false pretense of awarding a project for the
perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of
N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira) which representation/pretense you knew
to be false”.
Count three reads: “That you, Professor Magji Garba, whilst
being the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 1st [of ]
August 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of
N150,000,000.00 (One Hundred and fifty Million Naira from Alhaji Shehu Umar
Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited,
a contract executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the
Federal University, Gusau under the false presence of awarding a project for
the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of
N3,000,000,000.00 (Three Billion Naira), which representation/ pretense you
knew to be false”.
He had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thereby setting
the stage for his full trial.
After calling witnesses and tendering so many documents,
which were admitted in evidence, the EFCC closed its case on December 14, 2021.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge said the court was
satisfied that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He pronounced the defendant “guilty” on the five counts, and
sentenced him to seven years on counts 1-3 without the option of a fine.
The judge handed the convict a seven-year sentence on counts
4 and 5, with the option of N10 million fine each.
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