Three officials of Local Government Council bagged 12yrs of imprisoment

Justice J.J. Majebi of the Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene, Kogi State has convicted and sentenced three former officials of Bassa Local Government Council, Kogi State to 12 years imprisonment over a N160, 000,000.00million( One Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) fraud.

The convicts: Joseph Y. Agbo, Director, Local Government and Head of Service; John Ekele, Treasurer and Financial Adviser to the Executive Chairman and Abubakar Adamu, Chief Environmental Health Officer were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on March 13, 2012 on a four-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N160, 000,000.00million (One Hundred and Sixty Million Naira).

The offence was punishable under Section 97(1) and 315 of the Penal Code Law of Kogi State.

They were alleged to have converted to their personal use the sum of N N160, 000,000.00, being a loan facility obtained on behalf of the Bassa Local Government Council for some projects.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges, thereby setting the stage for their full trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, T.N. Ndifon, presented a number of witnesses and tendered various documents to prove his case against the accused.

Delivering his judgement on May 5, 2016, Justice Majebi convicted and sentenced both Agbo and Ekele to two years imprisonment each on count one and two years imprisonment on counts two and three.

Adamu was also convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment on count one and two years imprisonment on count four.