A former commissioner for finance in Adamawa State, John Babani Elias, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for diverting state funds.

The conviction followed a corruption case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, against the one time commissioner of local government and chieftaincy Affair.

The judgement was delivered by Justice Bilkisu Aliyu at the Federal High Court, Yola, Friday, in the case against the former commissioner and Al- Akim Investment Nig. Ltd a company promoted by Mr. John Elias and Inuwa Bassi, listed as the 1st and 2nd defendant in the case.
The court however acquitted Mr. Bassi for want of evidence, but sentenced John Babani Elias to 10 years imprisonment.

Mr. Babani had since been taken to Yola prison.
The EFCC secured the conviction in one of the landmark cases of anti-graft involving a politician in Adamawa, did so after it amended the charges against the accused to three counts of graft contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous under Section 1 (2) (b) of the same Act.

The judge, in her ruling on count 3 which nailed John Babani, and Al- Akim Investment Nig. Ltd., found the former commissioner guilty of defrauding the Adamawa state government of N31,500,000 vide his company which he used to divert the said monies meant for the local government joint project.
Although, the court found Mr. Elias guilty of conspiracy to cause the payment of N21,000,000 vide Habib Bank Nig. Ltd, it however, discharged and acquitted Inuwa Bassi, of the said count.

In addition John Elias Babani is to return N51,000,000 to the Adamawa state government joint account while his company (Al- Akim) shall pay the fine of N5,000,000 and also to be wound up immediately.

But counsel to John Elias, Andrew Malgwi, of Rickey Tarfa Chambers, said his client will appeal the judgement because it was not comfortable with some aspect of the ruling.

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Posted: at 5-12-2015 06:34 AM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero

Just 10yrs?!he stole #51m n is given jail term while sm1 who stole about #15000 is to be hanged! #crazyjusticesystem

Posted: at 5-12-2015 06:49 AM (8 years ago) | Newbie

ONLY IN 9JA where they sentence Amrd rubbers to Death for stealing 14,000 and given 10yrs sentence to PEN RUBERS that stole 51Million....

Posted: at 5-12-2015 07:11 AM (8 years ago) | Upcoming

I hope there is no option of fine

Posted: at 5-12-2015 07:29 AM (8 years ago) | Newbie

Institutional robbers

Posted: at 5-12-2015 07:48 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Hmmmmm,pls federal government,efcc&dss,Can you guys stop this,arrest,detain&imprison syndrome,Since you guys are sure of them looting&embezzling of govt fund,pls invite them all,tell them the implications involved,I believe they will willingly bring back their loots ot even be paying instalmentally till they pay all,just use summon,&dialogue syndrome than dis prison thing,cos they are some who even like the prison thing&decide to sit on dat money,But all the monies recovered since nko???hmmmmm

Posted: at 5-12-2015 08:04 AM (8 years ago) | Hero

Na wa o. I don't know wat to say.  Dis stealing don too much o

Posted: at 5-12-2015 09:40 AM (8 years ago) | Addicted Hero

WHAT KIND OF MATHEMATICS IS THAT!? SOMEONE STOLE 14500 HE WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING  AND 51 MILLION THIEF SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS THERES GOD OOOOO

Posted: at 5-12-2015 09:49 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

K o

Posted: at 5-12-2015 10:02 AM (8 years ago) | Upcoming

mmmmmmm na wa ooooooooooooo

Posted: at 5-12-2015 10:33 AM (8 years ago) | Grande Master

All this looters if the efcc can arrest them all and find out where the hide all our money and bring it back I think there will be no need for us to go and borrow money outside.

Posted: at 5-12-2015 10:36 AM (8 years ago) | Hero

That this country for you. They will jail people that steal billions while those that steal one cube of Maggi will be hanged to death

Posted: at 5-12-2015 12:02 PM (8 years ago) | Hero

Wow

Posted: at 5-12-2015 12:31 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

He ws sentenced wat if he was set free

Posted: at 5-12-2015 02:58 PM (8 years ago) | Upcoming

Gbam... amechi have said it all that he will nt divert trasportation money becz he dnt want to goto jail. all these people are nw reaping what the soul. Good for you, enjoy urself in prison.

Posted: at 5-12-2015 03:05 PM (8 years ago) | Hero

Steal N15000 u get death sentence, steal N51000000 and u get 10yrs imprisonment. Only in Nigeria, to all these judges dia ris God ooo

Posted: at 5-12-2015 03:10 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Yea that was gud, na like that God they catch you one by one stupid looter.

Posted: at 6-12-2015 08:35 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Just a miserly 10 years for stealing millions and an armed robber gets d death penalty for just 14k...
D more money u steal d less years u get, d lesser d amount d more sentences u receive.....
Wat a fair world we live...

Posted: at 6-12-2015 05:04 PM (8 years ago) | Hero

na onli naija poor man go steal maggi dem go burn am, rich man go steal soup full of meat nutyn dey go do am

Posted: at 10-12-2015 09:23 PM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Greedy bastard....

Posted: at 6-03-2016 11:50 AM (8 years ago) | Gistmaniac

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