Photo: Zamfara Court convicts two men for money laundering

Justice Fatima Murtala of the Federal High Court Gusau, Zamfara State on November 22, 2016 convicted the duo of Gambo Lawal Tsafe and Kasimu Mohammed on a two count charge of offences bordering on money laundering.

The convicts, a Director and Accountant both in ZASUBEB were arraigned before the same court by the EFCC on the June 12, 2016 on a three count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. Upon their arraignment, they pleaded not guilty but in today's proceedings, they changed their plea from not guilty to guilty to the two count amended charge. Their change of plea was sequel to a plea bargain agreement they entered with the prosecution.

In view of their latest plea, prosecution counsel, M.S Abubakar urged the court to convict them accordingly. While reviewing the facts of the case, Abubakar told the court that one Nasiru Nahoro, a contractor with the Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board (ZASUBEB) was awarded a contract by the board under the chairmanship of one Murtala Adamu who is facing a ten count charge of money laundering before the same court to the tune of over N30, 000,000 (Thirty Million Naira Only). The contract was for the construction of office block at the board in the sum of N74, 000,000.

However, it was gathered that the chairman of the board, Murtala Adamu had received the sum of N7, 400,000 as gratification which is a 10% of the total contract sum through the account of the first convict, Gambo Lawal. The first convict after taking his share of N160, 000, he transferred the rest of N7, 165,000 to the second convict.

Subsequently, the second convict withdrew cash in the sum of N7, 145,000 and took same to the board chairman. In the process, the second convict retained the sum of N20, 000 (Twenty Thousand Naira Only) as his own share.

After the review of the facts, Justice Murtala convicted the defendants after they told her that they understand the facts of the case and believed same to be true.

Defense Counsel, Muqaddis Aliyu, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy as the convicts were first time offenders and they did not waste the time of the court. He added that the convicts family men with children.

Prosecution counsel on the other hand confirmed to the court that the convicts have no record of conviction; he however urged the court to consider Section 17(b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act (2011) which indicates imprisonment of not less than five years or a fine of five times the total sum involved.

The case has been adjourned to tomorrow,

November 23, 2016 for sentence.