Court Jails Yobe Auditor General 5 Years for Fraud

By Adetokunbo Fakeye 

Nigeria - The Yobe State Auditor General for Local Government, Alhaji Idris Yahaya 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,

He was convicted after being pronounced guilty of a one count of criminal misappropriation to the tune of Nineteen Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (₦19,900,000.00) preferred against them by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, 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  one count charge against the convict reads: ''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 ₦19,900,000.00 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 ₦10,100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only". 

The convict who was first arraigned on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the stage for his full trial. In the course of the trial, counsel for the EFCC, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence.

Delivering judgment today, Justice Lawan held that the prosecution has proved the case against the defendant and convicted him as charged. He consequently sentenced him to 5 years imprisonment with an option of fine.

 The Judge further directed the convict to pay the sum of ₦10, 100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) in restitution to Yobe State Government through the EFCC or serve additional two years in prison.