[News] Kano businessman jailed for seven years over N6.5m fraud

A Kano-based businessman has been convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with no option of fine for obtaining property, valued at N7, 677,000 under false pretense.

Jamilu Sule was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following a petition which alleged that he obtained property of the complainant worth N7, 677,000 under false pretense.

He was arraigned by the Kano Zonal Command of the Commission, on Wednesday, June 22, before Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of the Kano State High Court, on a one-count of obtaining by false pretense.

The Commission’s spokesman, Tony Orilade, in a press statement stated that during his first trial in 2019, the anti-graft agency said Sule was accused of collecting goods, valued at N7, 677,000, on credit under the guise that he would supply the same to supermarkets.

“The Commission’s investigations revealed that the defendant is in the habit of collecting goods, pretending that he would supply same to supermarkets, but instead divert the goods for his personal use,” the statement said.

’Furthermore, the Commission disclosed that it charged the accused before Justice Dije Aboki, on a four-count charge of obtaining goods by false pretense.’’

One of the charges reads: “That you Jamilu Sule, between July and August 2018, at Singer Market Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, deceitfully obtained some provisions and food items, valued at N7,677,000 only, properties of Mohammed Shariff Ahmad, Ibrahim Dauda Abdullahi and Tajuddeen Abdulrahaman, committing cheating in respect of the said goods and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.”

Sule was first arraigned on May 21, 2019, during which he pleaded not guilty to the four-count charges brought against him by the EFCC.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Michael Ojo, called four witnesses and closed his case, while the defendant opted for no-case submission.