The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission announced on Monday that it has successfully convicted two individuals involved in defrauding prominent figures, including elder statesman Alhaji Aminu Dantata and former Minister Alhaji A.T. Gwarzo.
The commission also recovered N5 million stolen from Dantata and N1 million from Gwarzo.
During a briefing to journalists following the court proceedings, prosecution counsel Zahraddeen Hamisu Kofarmata explained how Bukar Galadima and Sulyman Ahmed devised a scheme to defraud their victims.
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Galadima impersonated former FCT Minister Mohammed Abba Gana, claiming to be ill and requesting financial help from Dantata for medical treatment. He solicited N5 million and provided account details for Dantata to transfer the funds. However, instead of his own details, Galadima gave his wife’s account information, Sadiyya Abba.
Following this deception, Dantata transferred N5 million, believing it was for urgent medical expenses. Galadima then transferred N500,000 to his accomplice in Abuja while keeping N4.5 million for himself. When Dantata later reached out to Abba Gana to inquire about his health, he discovered the fraud and reported the incident to the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, which subsequently initiated an investigation.
The two suspects were arrested and appeared before Magistrates’ Court No. 24 in Kano, where they were sentenced to four years in prison last week. They were charged with criminal conspiracy, impersonation, criminal breach of trust, and cheating.
Upon reading the First Information Report, both defendants pleaded guilty to all charges. Barr. Zahraddeen Hamisu Kofarmata requested a summary trial under Section 129(8) of the ACJL 2019, leading to their trial and conviction.
Presiding Chief Magistrate Umma Sani Kurawa sentenced each defendant to six months’ imprisonment for criminal conspiracy (or a fine of N30,000), three months for impersonation (or a fine of N20,000), one year for cheating (or a fine of N30,000), and six months for criminal breach of trust (or a fine of N20,000). They were also ordered to compensate Dantata and Gwarzo with a total of N5 million or face an additional two years in prison, as requested by the prosecution.
Additionally, the convicts used similar tactics to defraud Alhaji A.T. Gwarzo of N1 million. Although Gwarzo had not formally complained, the fraud was uncovered during the investigation. The commission confirmed that the recovered funds would be returned to both victims, and the fraudsters were required to sign a bond for good behavior.
