Former Adamawa governor gets five years jail term
A former governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari, has been handed a five-year jail term without an option of fine by an Adamawa high court on Monday.
He was found guilty of the corruption charge filed against him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The case was filed in September 2016.
The court presided over by Justice Nathan Musa, acquitted the former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Andrew Welye, and Former Commissioner of Finance, Mr Sunday Lamurde, who stood trial with the former governor on same offenses of 17 count charges.
Delivering judgement, Justice Musa, said that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ngilari violated the Public Procurement Act of the state by awarding contract for the procurement of 25 vehicles for his commissioners at the cost of N167 million without following due process.
He said Ngilari’s action amounted to executive lawlessness.
Musa said that the five years was the least he could give Ngilari, whose lawyer, Mr Samuel Toni (SAN) pleaded for leniency “in view of his (Ngilari) invaluable contribution while he was the governor of the state during the trying moment of insurgency.”
Musa said that Ngilari would serve the sentence in the prison of his choice in the country “but for now he should start with Yola prison.”
Musa expressed hope that the conviction and sentence of Ngilari would serve as a deterrent to serving governors who engage in doing things without following due process.
“It is my hope that this conviction and sentence will serve as deterrent to serving governors..”
The judge however discharged and acquitted Welye and Lamurde, saying that the prosecutor could not prove the case against them.
Ngilari told newsmen before he was taken away from the court that he would appeal the sentence.
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4 Comments
For the first time in Nigeria, I hear of a politician going to jail for corruption.
this shud not only hapn to opposition politicians pls…dont say we have to start from somewhr, start everywhr now cos u hav the muscle
Good for Nigeria…Thank you for giving the judgement in the fear of God. In Osun State a boy could be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for stealing a fowl whereas governors stealing millions will be set free. There is hope for Nigeria!
violation of procurement act == 168 million “mal-handling” == 5years imprisonment(too lenient). And you want to appeal. you are ingrate.
We will review and take appropriate action.