14 judges, others sent to prison over N500m fraud

The Kano State Sharia Court Division has sentenced 14 judges, and registrars alongside a cashier of the court, Hussaina Imam for allegedly diverting the sum of N 500 million meant for orphans.

The defendants who were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Mustapha Sa’ad Datti on Wednesday, January 17, were accused of committing an offense bordering on criminal conspiracy, joint act, and criminal breach of trust by public servants, theft, and forgery.

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The First Information Report alleged that; “On 20th August 2021 an official complaint was received at the Kano State Public Complain and Anti-Corruption Commission from Kano State ministry of justice, that some time ago in the year 2020/2021 you Bashir Ali Kurawa “M”, Saadatu Umar “f”, Tijjani Abdullahi “m”, Maryam Jibrin Garba “f”, Shamsu Sani “m” and you Hussaina Iman “f” you committed an offense of criminal conspiracy in which you Hussaina Imam used your official position as cashier in the Kano State Sharia Court of Appeal and conspired with the aforementioned persons and one Suleiman “m” (now at large) and forged the letterhead papers/sheets of Sharia Court of Appeal, forged the signatures of the two signatories to the Stanbic IBTC persons.”

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However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the counsel representing them applied for bail on their behalf.

Responding to the bail applications, the defense counsels urged the court to consider the huge amount involved in the case while granting the bail.

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The trial Magistrate, Mustapha Sa’ad Datti, adjourned the case to February 1, 2023, for hearing and ordered the remand of all the defendants in the correctional center. (RN)