A Borno State High Court in Maiduguri has sentenced Aisha Alkali Wakil, widely known as “Mama Boko Haram,” along with her associates Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, to 14 years in prison each for fraud involving a fictitious contract worth N11 million.
Justice Aisha Kumaliya delivered the judgment on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, following a trial that began in September 2020 after their arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The three were prosecuted on two counts of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence in relation to their roles at Complete Care and Aid Foundation, an NGO they ran as Chief Executive Officer, Programme Manager, and Country Director, respectively.
According to EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the defendants obtained N11 million from one Muhammed Ambare of Muhammed Ambare Ventures in July 2018 under the false pretence of supplying and servicing two X-ray machines. The EFCC said the contract did not exist.
Count two of the charges stated: “That you, Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Saidu Daura, Prince Lawal Shoyode, and Saidu Mukhtar (now at large), with intent to defraud, obtained N11,000,000.00 from one Muhammed Ambare under the false pretence of executing a contract for supply, installation, and servicing of 2 units of X-Ray Machine Model 1800, which you knew to be false…”
The defendants pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial. The prosecution, led by Mukhtar Ali Ahmed and S.O. Saka, presented one witness and submitted several documents as evidence.
Justice Kumaliya found them guilty on both counts and sentenced each of the three to seven years on each count, to run concurrently.
The court also ordered them to refund N8 million to the victim. Failure to repay the amount will result in an additional seven-year jail term.
This conviction adds to previous judgments against Wakil and her associates. In December 2024, they were each sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by the same court for defrauding a businessman of N6 million under another false contract involving the purchase of a Toyota Camry.
During that case, the prosecution presented three witnesses and documentary evidence.
The judge also ordered the restitution of N3.5 million to the petitioner, with an additional five-year sentence in default of payment.
All convictions were secured by the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate.