By Paul
Professor Magaji Garba, a former Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara, was convicted on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Maryam Hassan Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Garki, Abuja, found him guilty of five offences relating to acquiring money by deception and forgery and sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
Garba was charged by the EFCC on October 12, 2021, for allegedly extorting various sums from a contractor under the guise of granting him a N3 billion contract for the University’s perimeter wall fence.
The offence violates section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is penalised under section 1 (3), according to a statement by the EFCC on Thursday.
The trial judge stated in his decision on Thursday that the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He found the defendant “guilty” on all five charges and sentenced him to seven years in jail without the option of a fee on counts 1-3 and seven years in prison with the possibility of a N10 million fine on counts 4 and 5.
