Court Convicts Gombe SEMA Boss, One Other for Stealing IDP Building Materials

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Gombe
zonal office on March 13, 2020 secured the conviction of Dr. Dallami Arab
Rukuje and Isa Garba before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High
Court on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal
misappropriation, aiding and abetting.

Rukuje, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency
Management Agency, GOSEMA, was accused of conspiring with Garba, the Store
Officer to cart away some building materials meant to alleviate the sufferings
of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the state. The materials were provided
by the Presidential Committee for the North-East Initiatives.

Rather than utilize the materials for the IDPs, they
conspired to sell 5,000 bags of cement, and 4,000 drums of 20litre paint, and
used the proceeds for their personal benefit.

They pleaded “not guilty” when they were arraigned in
February 2018.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution presented five
witnesses, and tendered 15 exhibits. The defence presented three witnesses.

Both parties filed their final written addresses on December
20, 2019.

Delivering his judgement, Justice Jauro, held that the
prosecution proved its case against every reasonable doubt as required by law,
and so pronounced them guilty as charged.

Rukuje was thereafter, sentenced to 14 months in prison on
count one for conspiracy, and 18 months each on count two and three for
criminal misappropriation.

Garba was sentenced to 14 months in prison on count one for
conspiracy, and 18 months each on count two and three for aiding and abetting.

In all, each of them was sentenced to four years and two
months imprisonment to run concurrently.

They were each, however, given an option of N100,000 fine
for each count, amounting to N300,000 each.

While commending the Judge for the ruling, counsel for the
EFCC, S.E. Okemini also applied to the Judge for the restitution of the
proceeds of the crime.

Justice Jauro thereafter, ordered that Rukuje pay N7,960,340
to GOSEMA, while N195,000 and N80,000 recovered be forfeited to the Federal
Government of Nigeria.