Rep member, three bank officials jailed for N212m fraud

Justice Sale Musa Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, handed down a conviction to Mansur Ali Mashi, a former member of the House of Representatives, on eight charges including conspiracy and obtaining funds through false pretences.

The trial, which lasted for 12 years, also resulted in the conviction of three bank officials: Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu, and Muazu Abdu.

Mashi, who previously represented the Mashi Dutsi federal constituency, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme.

He used fictitious companies to obtain a loan of N212,439,552 (Two Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty-two Naira) from Sterling Bank, diverting the funds for personal use.

Initially, all defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial proceeded.

Throughout the trial, various setbacks occurred due to the elevation or retirement of the trial judges.

Nonetheless, the prosecution presented six witnesses and several exhibits to establish the case against the defendants.

During the recent court session on Thursday, June 15, the first defendant, Mashi, was absent.

However, the court, after careful consideration, found him guilty on counts 1 to 8 and subsequently convicted him.

The fourth defendant was also absent but was found guilty on all counts and convicted accordingly.

Sentencing for the two absent defendants was deferred until they were apprehended and brought before the court.

Abdulmumini Mustapha, the second defendant and former branch manager of Sterling Bank, was convicted on counts 1 to 15 and received a five-year prison sentence for each count, without the option of a fine. Additionally, the court ordered the second defendant to restitute Sterling Bank with the sum of N40,000,000 (Forty Million Naira).

The third defendant, who formerly held the position of Head of Operations at the bank, was acquitted on counts 1 to 8 but convicted on counts 9 to 15. For each count, he was sentenced to five years in prison, without the option of a fine.

Mansur Ali Mashi, the first defendant, is also awaiting judgment in a separate case of contempt of court before the same court.

The judgment for this case is scheduled for today, June 16, 2023. In this particular matter, Mashi is accused of selling properties that were seized from him by the court through an interim forfeiture order.