Court Jails Ex-Gusau Varsity VC, Prof. Graba 35 Years Over ₦260M Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) earlier today secured the conviction of Professor Magaji Garba, a former Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Gusau, as Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Garki, Abuja, found him guilty of a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery and sentenced him to 35 years jail term.
Garba was arraigned by the EFCC on 12th October 2021, for allegedly extorting various sums from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a ₦3 billion contract for the perimeter wall fencing of the university.
The offence is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Professor Magaji Garba, whilst being the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 15th of May, 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of One Hundred Million Naira (₦100,000,000) from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square of the Federal University, Gusau under the false pretence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of Three Billion Naira (₦3,000,000,000.00) which representation/pretence you knew to be false”.
Count three reads: “That you, Professor Magji Garba, whilst being the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Gusau on or about the 1st August 2019 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with intent to defraud obtained the sum of One Hundred and fifty Million Naira (₦150,000,000.00) from Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of Ministaco Nigeria Limited, a contractor executing the construction of the Grand Convocation Square at the Federal University, Gusau under the false presence of awarding a project for the perimeter wall fencing of the University valued at the total sum of Three Billion Naira (₦3,000,000,000.00), which representation/ pretence you knew to be false”.
He had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thereby setting the stage for his full trial.
After calling witnesses and tendering so many documents, which were admitted in evidence, the EFCC closed its case on 14th December 2021.
Delivering judgment today, the trial judge said the court was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He pronounced the defendant “guilty” on the five counts, and sentenced him to seven years on counts 1-3 without an option of fine and seven years imprisonment on counts 4 and 5, with an option of ₦10 million fine each.
