Daud Olatunji
In a shocking turn of events, a dismissed Inspector of the Niger State Police Command, Inspector Yahaya Mohammed, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the theft and sale of an AK-47 magazine and ammunition to suspected armed bandits within the state.
Mohammed, who previously held the position of second in command in charge of the armory at the Niger State Police Command headquarters, faced charges of criminal conspiracy and theft, as well as unlawful dealing in the sale of arms.
The court heard that Mohammed conspired with Ndaman Gana, another officer in charge of the state police command armory department, to carry out the illicit transaction.
According to the police prosecutor, DSP Ahmed Saidu, the charges brought against the former inspector contravened several sections of the penal code and relevant laws.
The case unfolded when credible information from a reliable source was received by the Department of State Service (DSS) attached to Rafi Local Government Area.
It detailed the transportation of suspicious goods, believed to be arms, in a ‘Ghana must go bag’ to Kagara motor park.
Swift police action led to the arrest of Inspector Yahaya Mohammed, formerly attached to the Department of Operation as the second in command in the state armory.
The police investigation revealed that Mohammed and Ndaman Gana stole 22 magazines and 61 live ammunitions of different calibers belonging to the Niger State Police Command.
These stolen items were allegedly sold to Corporal Sani Mohammed, formerly attached to Mopol 12 Minna, with each magazine priced at N1000 and each ammunition at N650.
During the court proceedings, Inspector Yahaya Mohammed pleaded guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, DSP Ahmed Saidu, urged the Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan to invoke the provision of Section 190 of the administration of Criminal Justice Law of Niger State for a summary conviction.
Notably, the prosecutor emphasized that the convict had been diagnosed with a contagious disease, cough hemoptysis, and provided a medical report.
In her judgment, Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan expressed disappointment in Mohammed’s conduct, highlighting the irony of a police officer engaging in selling ammunition to armed bandits.
Despite her inclination to convict him without an option of a fine, considering the contagious disease, she sentenced Mohammed to two years imprisonment with a N100,000 fine option.
The Chief Magistrate further directed that, if unable to pay the fine, Mohammed should be transferred to the Chanchaga Leprosarium Colony to serve his jail term, ensuring the containment of the communicable disease.
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