Mama Boko Haram, Aisha Wakil, sentenced to five years imprisonment over N71.4m fraud
Aisha Wakil, popularly known as ‘Mama Boko Haram’ has been to five years imprisonment by a Borno high court over fraud.
Mama Boko Haram was re-arraigned alongside Tahiru Daura and Prince Shoyode, in September 2020 by the Maiduguri zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N71,400,000.
Count one of charge against them read;
“That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, whilst being chief executive officer, programme manager and country director respectively of Complete Care and Aid Foundation (a non-governmental organisation), sometime in the year 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno state, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud, induced one Saleh Ahmed Said of Shuad General Enterprises Ltd to deliver to you 3,000 bags of beans worth N71,400,000 under the false pretence of executing a contract for the supply of same, which you made the said Saleh Ahmed Said to believe that you had the capacity to pay the entire contract sum upon execution, which you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Sections 1(1) (b) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
After they pleaded not guilty to the charges, the prosecuting counsel, Mukhtar Ahmed, presented four witnesses and tendered several documents which were admitted as exhibits.
Justice Aisha Kumaliya who delivered judgement on the case on Tuesday June 14, said the prosecution proved the case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge sentenced the defendants to five years imprisonment without an option of fine. The convicts were also ordered to pay the sum of N30,500,000 as compensation to the victim.
Should they default in paying the fine, the judge said the convicts would serve an additional 10-year jail term.