Court fines convict N100,000 for N20 million fraud

A High Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Wednesday, fined a man N100,000 for about N20 million fraud perpetrated against a foreign organisation.

The court convicted and sentenced Muhammad Kulloma to one-year imprisonment for the fraud, but with an option of N100,000 fine, according to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

Mr Kulloma, according to the EFCC’s statement, duped Abdulwahab Aji in August 2020 to deliver N19,950,000 to him under the guise of executing a contract for the supply of water pumps awarded by the Norwegian Refugee Council, a non-governmental organisation.

The statement said the convict fraudulently induced Mr Aji to deliver the money to him through his Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited Company account with GT Bank.

EFCC subsequently charged the suspect, who pleaded not guilty.

The commission, according to the statement, called several witnesses and tendered documents during the trial.

Delivering judgement on Wednesday, the judge, Umaru Fadawu, of the High Court of Borno State, in Maiduguri, found the defendant guilty of the offence.

The judge sentenced him to one-year imprisonment with an option of N100,000. There was no indication in EFCC’s statement that the money was recovered from the convict or that he was ordered to make restitution. But an official said the commission had possibly recovered the money from the convict.

The judge ordered Mr Kulloma to remain in detention until the company, Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited, paid the 100,000 fine.

READ EFCC’S FULL STATEMENT

EFCC Press Release

Company Executive, One Other Convicted for Fraud in Maiduguri

The Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, secured the conviction and sentencing of one Muhammad Abdullahi Kulloma to one year imprisonment before Justice Umaru Fadawu of Borno State High Court, Maiduguri

Kulloma was prosecuted on one count amended charge of cheating to the tune of N19, 950,000.00 (Nineteen Million Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).

The charge reads: “That you Muhammad Abdullahi Kulloma and Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited sometime in August, 2020 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently induced one Abdulwahab Abba Aji to deliver to you the sum of Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N19,950,000.00) only via your Mbuta Criterion Nigeria Limited Company account No. 0458028956 domiciled in GT Bank Plc under the guise of executing a contract for the supply of water pumps awarded by Norwegian Refugee Council a Non- Governmental Organisation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 320 (a) and 322 of the Penal Code Cap 102 Laws of Borno State.”