The Federal High Court, Kaduna, presided over by Justice Sale Musa Shuaibu, has convicted a former member of the House of Representatives, Mansur Ali Mashi and three former officials of Sterling Bank Plc, for conspiracy and obtaining by false pretenses to the tune of N212,439,552.
Mashi, who represented Mashi Dutsi federal constituency and the three bank officials-Abdulmumini Mustapha, who was the then branch manager of Sterling Bank in the state; Shehu Aliyu, the then Head of Operation of the bank and another staff, Muazu Abdu were convicted in the trial that lasted 12 years.
According to the eight counts of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretenses, preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the bank officials aided the lawmaker (the 1st accused person) to use fictitious companies to fraudulently obtain a loan facility to the tune of N212,439,552, from Sterling Bank, which he diverted for personal use.
Mustapha (the 2nd defendant), who was the former branch manager of Sterling Bank at the time, was convicted on counts 1 to 15 and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count without option of fine. The court further ordered him to restitute Sterling Bank in the sum of N40, 000,000 (Forty Million Naira).
Upon their arraignment by the EFCC, the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and the case proceeded to trial. In the course of trial, the matter suffered several setbacks due to elevation or retirement of the trial judges. But the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove the case against the defendants.
At the last adjourned date, counsel to the parties adopted their final written addresses and the matter was subsequently adjourned till June 15 and 16, 2023 for judgment.
However, when the matter was called on Thursday, June 15, the 1st defendant was absent in court. But the court in a well-considered judgment, pronounced him guilty on counts 1 to 8 and was convicted accordingly.
The 4th defendant was also absent but the court found him guilty on all counts and convicted in .
The court however reserved sentencing for the two absentee defendants until they are arrested and brought before the court..
The 3rd defendant (the former Head of Operation of the bank), was discharged on count 1-8 but convicted on counts 9 to 15 and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on each count without option of fine.
Wilson Uwujaren, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, said in a statement on Friday that the 1st defendant, Mansur Ali Mashi, is also awaiting judgment in a case of contempt of court before the same court. The judgment is slated for today, June 16, 2023.
He said: “In this particular case, Mashi is alleged to have sold the properties that were confiscated from him by the Court through an interim forfeiture order.”