Fawaz Adebisi
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has sentenced an ex-Reps member, Mansur Mashi, and three officials of sterling Bank, Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu and, Muazu Abdu, to prison for their involvement in a N212 million fraud.
The court in a judgement delivered by Justice Sale Shuaibu, on Thursday, convicted Mashi on eight counts of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretences.
It was gathered that Mashi, alongside the bank officials, has been in the trial for the past 12 years.
The former Reps memb I’mer was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for using fictitious companies to fraudulently obtain a loan facility to the tune of N212.4 million from Sterling Bank, which he diverted for personal use.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and the case proceeded to trial.
During the trial, several setbacks occurred due to the retirement or elevation of the trial judges.
Nonetheless, the prosecution presented six witnesses and various exhibits to establish the defendants’ guilt.
On the previous adjourned date, both parties’ counsel submitted their final written addresses, and the case was scheduled for judgment on June 15 and 16, 2023.
However, on Thursday, June 15, the 1st defendant was absent from court. Similarly, the 4th defendant was also absent, but the court found him guilty on all charges and convicted him. Sentencing for the two absent defendants was deferred until their arrest and appearance in court.
The 2nd defendant, Abdulmumin Mustapha, the former branch manager of Sterling Bank, was convicted on counts one to fifteen and received a five-year prison sentence for each count without the option of a fine. Additionally, the court ordered him to restitute Sterling Bank with N40 million.
The 3rd defendant, who is the former operations manager of the bank, was acquitted on counts one to eight but convicted on counts nine to fifteen.
He received a five-year prison sentence for each count without the option of a fine.
The 1st defendant, Mashi, is currently awaiting judgment in a contempt of court case before the same court, with the judgment scheduled for today, June 16, 2023.
Mashi stands accused of selling properties that were previously confiscated from him by the court through an interim forfeiture order.
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