The Borno State High Court in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria, has sentenced Aisha Wakil, widely known as Mama Boko Haram, and two others to 15 years imprisonment each for a fraud involving ₦6 million. The judgment, delivered by Justice Aisha Kumaliya on Thursday, followed their conviction for charges of conspiracy, cheating, and providing false information.
The defendants, Wakil, Programme Manager Tahiru Saidu Daura, and Country Director Prince Lawal Shoyode, all affiliated with the NGO Complete Care and Aid Foundation, were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC accused the trio of dishonestly obtaining a Toyota Camry 2012 model valued at ₦6 million from one Alhaji Bukar Kachalla of Abks Ventures Limited under the guise of executing a contract. They failed to either procure the vehicle or return the money.
During the trial, EFCC’s counsel Mukhtar Ahmed and Shamsudeeb Saka presented three witnesses and submitted documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations. Justice Kumaliya subsequently sentenced each of the defendants to five years imprisonment on each of the three counts.
In addition to their sentences, the court ordered the convicts to jointly repay the outstanding ₦3.5 million to the petitioner. Failure to do so would result in an additional five years of imprisonment.
The EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, commended the judgment, describing it as a victory in the fight against corruption.
