The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Gombe Zonal Office on March 10, 2020 secured the conviction of one Osman Idris Gaya before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High Court on a one-count charge bordering on fraudulent conversion.
Gaya was arraigned today following a petition by Sanduff Oil and Gas Ltd dated August 29, 2017 alleging that sometimes in July 2015, in Gombe, Gombe State in his capacity as Depot Representative of the Company in Lagos he was entrusted with N5,313,200.00 (Five Million, Three Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred Naira Only) to deliver 40,000 litres of petroleum product, but he never delivered. He instead, dishonestly converted same to his personal use, an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria and Punishable under Section 312 of the same Law.
He did not waste the time of the Court as he pleaded “guilty” to the charge.
Counsel for the EFCC, M.D. Aliyu, therefore, urged the court to pronounce him guilty as charged.
Defence counsel, however, pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy, pleading that the defendant was a first-time offender.
Delivering judgement, Justice Jauro convicted him, accordingly, and sentenced him to three years in prison. He was however, given an option of N100,000 as fine.
The Judge also considered the submission of the defence counsel which was confirmed by the prosecution that part of the money had already been recovered from him in the course of investigation and that an agreement had been reached between the nominal complainant and the convict that the balance will be recovered from the salary of the convict who at the time of trial was a serving staff of the company.