JUSTICE Muhammad Lawan of the Yobe State High Court has sentenced the Auditor-General for Local Government in the state, Idris Yahaya, to five years imprisonment over a N19.9 million fraud.
The case was brought against Yahaya by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Maiduguri Zonal Command.
A statement released by EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren disclosed that the auditor-general diverted funds meant for the purchase of an official vehicle for his personal use.
The EFCC explained that Yahaya received funds from the Office of the Auditor General for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Yobe State, for the purchase of an official vehicle, a 2015 Toyota Corolla, and diverted part of the money to his personal use.
The statement further disclosed that Yahaya would spend five years in prison following his conviction on Monday, March 13.
“Alhaji Idris Yahaya, the Auditor-General for Local Government, Yobe State, is to spend five years in prison, following his conviction today, Monday, March 13, 2023, by Justice Muhammad Lawu Lawan of the Yobe State High Court.”
The charge against the auditor-general read: “That you, Yahaya Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, between the 20th to 21st day of May, 2017 at Damaturu, Yobe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, received the sum of N19,900,000.00 via your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc for the purchase of a brand new Toyota Corolla 2015 Model, did dishonestly misappropriated the gross sum of N10,100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only.”
In his judgment, the judge stated that the auditor general should pay the sum of N10 million as restitution to the Yobe State Government through the EFCC or serve additional two years in prison.
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