Ex-VC bags 7 years imprisonment over N3bn contract fraud
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, sentenced a former Vice Chancellor of Federal University Gusau, Magaji Garba, to seven years imprisonment over a N3 billion contract fraud.
Delivering judgment, the trial judge, Justice Maryam Aliyu, held that the court was satisfied that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
She therefore held that Prof Garba was guilty of all five counts preferred against him by the prosecution.
The Judge sentenced the convict to seven years in prison on counts 1 to 3 without option of fine, and seven years with an option of N10 million each on counts 4 and 5.
She ordered that the sentences were to run concurrently.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the convict on charges of corruption bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
The convict was accused of extorting various sums of money from a contractor on the pretext of awarding him a N3 billion contract for the perimeter fencing of the university.
The commission had arraigned Garba on 12 October 2021 for allegedly extorting various sums of money from the contractor on the ostensibly to award him the N3 billion contract.
He had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, thereby setting the stage for his full trial.
After calling witnesses and tendering documents, which were admitted in evidence, the EFCC closed its case on 14 December 2021.
