The Federal High Court Kano presided over by Justice Fatu Riman has convicted and sentenced a senior lawyer, Yakubu Mohammed Na-Allah, to four years imprisonment without the option of fine for offences of money laundering.
Na-Allah was found guilty of laundering N50 million.
The convict was arraigned by the EFCC on 14 January, 2013 on a two count charge of money laundering.
Upon arraignment, Na-Allah pleaded not guilty and subsequently trial commenced on 26 June, 2013 in which the prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered fifteen exhibits.
On February 1, 2013 the properties of the convict were attached by the EFCC following an interim forfeiture order issued by the same court.
Na-Allah’s journey to prison started when the commission received a petition that the 68-year-old Kano Lawyer, allegedly duped two of his clients to the tune of N50 million, part of the money recovered for his client in a case they filed against Ministry of Solid Minerals where the convict represented them.
The petition alleged that the convict after winning the case and the sum of N90 million recovered, he gave his client only N30 million and converted the rest of the money to his personal use.
However, investigation by the EFCC revealed that the convict used part of the proceeds to acquire a palatial mansion in Sharada area of Kano.
In his judgment, Justice Riman ruled that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and subsequently convicted Na-Allah.
Prosecution counsel, M.S Abubakar urged the court to consider the forfeiture of properties acquired by the convict with the proceeds of his crime.
Justice Riman sentenced the convict to serve two years imprisonment on each of the two count charge and also ordered that the attached property of the convict worth Fifty Million Naira at the time it was purchased be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The sentences are to run concurrently. (NAN)