‘Mama Boko Haram’ Jailed For Fraud

Aisha Wakil, better known as Mama Boko Haram has been sentenced by  a high court sitting in Borno state for fraud.

Wakil, who was arraigned alongside Tahiru Daura and Prince Lawal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for conspiracy, cheating, and obtaining N120,500,000.00 by false pretence were convicted on Thursday.

In one of the counts, they were accused of obtaining the sum of N45 million “from one Mohammed Umar Mohammed of Nyeuro International Limited under the false pretence of executing a purported contract of supply, installation and servicing of 10 pieces of Chison 600A, 2009 version deluxe ultrasound system”, in 2018.

In count four, they allegedly obtained 3,000 bags of 50kg of white beans worth N65,000,000.00 “from one Mohammed Umar Mohammed of Nyeuro International Limited under the pretence of executing a purported contract of supply of the said beans”.

They had pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Mukhtar Ahmed, a lawyer, called seven witnesses, including Shehu Usman, an investigator with the EFCC, who testified that “Complete and Aid Care Foundation, an NGO (run by the defendants), was run as a Ponzi scheme, by robbing Peter to pay Paul”.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge Aisha Kumaliya held that the prosecution proved its case against the defendants beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The court hereby finds you Aisha Alkali Wakil, Tahiru Daura, Prince Lawal Shoyade guilty and convicted you as charged,” the judge held.

On the first count, they were sentenced to seven years imprisonment, 10 years on the second count, and five years imprisonment on the third count.

The sentences are to run concurrently.