Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri yesterday convicted and sentenced the former Director of Operations, Skynet International Travel and Tours Limited, Yusuf Abdulkarim Galtimari to one year imprisonment for a N1.6m fraud.
The offence he committed is contrary to and punishable under Sections 320 and 322 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of 1994.
The convict was arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), based on a petition received, alleging that he obtained N1, 050, 000 from one Shuaibu Zakari Yau and another N550, 000.00 from Faruq Mohammed while he was a director of Skynet, under the guise of obtaining a “seat” for the 2019 Hajj Pilgrimage for Shuaibu Zakari Yau.
He was arraigned on a one-count amended charge.
The charge reads: “That you Yusuf Abdulkarim Galtimari sometime in 2019 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Shuaibu Zakari and Faruq Mohammed to deliver to you the total sum of N1, 600, 000.00 (One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) only for the payment of 2019 Hajj Pilgrimage, which you failed to discharge your obligation and refused to refund the entire sum delivered to you, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 320 and 322 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State Cap. 102 Vol. 3 of the 1994 respectively”.
He pleaded “guilty” to the charge preferred against him.
Upon his plea, prosecution counsel, Haruna Abdulkadir prayed the court to convict and sentence Galtimari as charged.
Justice Kumaliya convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment.
She, however, gave the convict an option of N150, 000.00.
In another development, the judge equally conviction and sentencing of Zanna Modu Ajimi to one year imprisonment for his involvement in a land fraud to the tune of N750m.
The charge reads: “That you Zanna Modu Ajimi sometime in October, 2020 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly induced one Mohammed Nur of 222 BNM Konduga to deliver to you the sum of N750, 000.00 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, as purchase price in respect of a plot of land covered by Customary Certificate of Occupancy, lying and situate at New side Moranti within Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, while you knew you had no title and or authority to sell the said land and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Sections 320 and 322 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State Cap. 102 Vol.3 of 1994 respectively”.
The convict also pleaded “guilty” when the charge was read to him.
Upon his plea, prosecution counsel, Haruna Abdulkadir urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant as charged.
Justice Kumaliya convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment.
The convict was given an option of N200, 000.00 fine.
