A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Gyadi-Gyadi, Kano, has convicted and sentenced two men, Bukar Galadima and Suleiman Ahmed, for defrauding prominent Kano businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, and former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo.
The court found the duo guilty of conspiring to defraud Dantata of N5 million and Gwarzo of N1 million.
Galadima had impersonated former FCT Minister, Engr. Abba Gama, falsely claiming he was ill and in need of medical help. In response, Dantata sent N5 million to assist with the supposed treatment. However, it was later revealed that Engr. Gama had made no such request, prompting Dantata to report the matter to the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Following their arrest, Galadima and Ahmed were brought before Magistrate Umma Sani Kurawa, who found them guilty of criminal conspiracy, impersonation, and breach of trust. The court sentenced them to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of N30,000 for conspiracy, three months or a N20,000 fine for impersonation, and another six months or N20,000 for breach of trust. Additionally, they were ordered to pay compensation of N5 million to Dantata or face an additional two years in prison.
During the hearing, Zahraddeen Kofar Mata, counsel for the anti-corruption commission, revealed that N1 million defrauded from the former minister, Gwarzo, had been recovered by the commission. Though Gwarzo had not formally lodged a complaint, the fraud was uncovered during the investigation.
Kofar Mata explained that the defendants were prosecuted under Section 129 (8) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019, leading to their conviction.
