A Gombe State High Court, presided over by Justice Fatima Musa, on Monday July 5, 2021 convicted and sentenced a former employee of Ashaka Cement, Bajoga, Gombe State, one Bala Bello, to a year imprisonment over stealing.
The conviction came as a result of two separate one-count charge of stealing brought against him by the Gombe Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The offence is contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 6 by EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, Bello was alleged to have collected the sums of N780,000 and N400,000 from one Alhaji Shadi Manu and Sa’ad Abdulhamid respectively, on the pretext of supplying them with trucks of cement, which he never did.
Instead of carrying out the supplies, the defendant had reportedly diverted the funds for personal use, Uwujaren disclosed.
He had pleaded guilty to the two separate charges and was consequently convicted.
Justice Musa however gave the convict option of N50,000 and N30,000 fines, amounting to N80,000.
She also ordered the convict to restitute the sums of N780,000 to his first victim, Alhaji Manu and N400,000 to Abdulhamid, the other victim.
