Breach Of Trust: Court Sentences Adamawa Chief To Eight Years Imprisonment

An Adamawa State community chief, Gumni Ilihu, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment over an alleged breach of trust and threats of banishing a resident.

One Roel Sunaka, 47, was said to have dragged the local chief of his community to the Magistrate Court in Adamawa for allegedly refusing to refund the debt owed him.

According to the primary school teacher, Ilihu had collected 13 sheep from him and promised a reimbursement but failed to do so. Sunaka accused the chief of using the proceeds of his livestock to secure the chieftaincy stool of Gurgu Village, in Banjiram District, under Guyuk Council, and since refused to pay his debt.

He further alleged that instead of getting a refund, Ilihu was threatening to drive him out of Gugu village, a community under Banjiram District, Guyuk Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

While ruling on the case instituted by Sunaka, Magistrate Hyellamada Hyellandendu found the defendant guilty of criminal breach of trust, section 302, intimidation and mischief under section 382 Adamawa State penal code law 2018.

Hyellandendu, in his sentencing, said, “For criminal breach of trust, you Chief Gumni Ilihu, is to be sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine, one-year imprisonment for criminal intimidation with an option of N25,000 fine instead of prison term and two years jail term for mischief with an option of fine of N50, 000.”

The judge said the jail terms were to run concurrently, bringing the total number of years the defendant is to spend in jail to eight years upon failure to meet up the fine obligation to secure his freedom.

Addressing journalists after the court ruling, Sunaka said all entreaties to get the chief to repay him the money fell on deaf ears.

“On several occasions, after he became the village head, he threatened to make me leave the village if I continued to disturb him about the repayment for my livestock which I gave to him,” The PUNCH quoted the complainant saying.