In a recent development, Muhammed Sani Nuhu, a former academic staff member of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic in Kebbi State, has been handed a five-year prison sentence for deceitfully diverting over N6 million from the polytechnic’s funds for personal gain.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully prosecuted the case, leading to the conviction.
According to Azuka Ogugua, the spokesperson for the Commission, the charges were presented before Hon. Justice Hassan Usman of the Kebbi State High Court, Birnin Kebbi Judicial Division.
The ICPC revealed that Nuhu took advantage of his position by misappropriating funds in the amounts of “two million Naira (N2,000,000:00) in 2015 and four million, one hundred and seventy-three thousand, four hundred Naira (N4,173,400:00) in 2016.”
Investigations uncovered that Nuhu, who had been dismissed from his position at the polytechnic, had received these funds through a special grant.
The grant was intended to cover his expenses for attending an international conference in Aberdeen, United Kingdom, as well as the initial payment for his Doctor of Philosophy program at the University of Technology Malaysia.
However, he failed to fulfill the purpose of the funds and diverted them for personal use.
During the two-year trial, counsel to the ICPC, Mashkur Salisu, informed the court about the convict’s refusal to pursue the intended program and his subsequent conversion of the money for personal gain.
The court found Nuhu guilty on counts one to three, while count four was dismissed.
In delivering the judgment, Justice Usman sentenced the former polytechnic lecturer to five years imprisonment for each of the three counts.
Additionally, the court ordered Nuhu to make restitution of the full amount, N6.5 million, which constituted the proceeds of his illicit activities, to the Federal Government. The sentences are to be served concurrently.