NIGERIA: ICPC Jails UDUTH Accountant For Diverting N60 Million

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has sentenced an accountant at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Lukumanu Sani Waziri, to prison for corruption and abuse of office.

He was convicted for diverting over ₦60 million through the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

The information was made known in a press statement made by the Spokesperson for the Commission, Demola Bakare, fsi, on Sunday.

The statement revealed that the Federal High Court, Sokoto Division, presided over by Justice M. Abdulgafar, delivered the judgement on Friday, convicting Waziri on seven of the nine charges brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to the statement, Waziri, a designated GIFMIS user at UDUTH, manipulated financial records to transfer public funds into private accounts, including those belonging to himself and his co-conspirator, Monday Michael Adejo.

He also altered bank details for state taxes of Kogi, Edo, Bauchi, and Zamfara States, diverting the funds to Adejo’s account.

One of the charges read: “That you, LUKUMANU SANI WAZIRI, conspired with Monday Michael Adejo to take possession of ₦20,619,956.8 from the Government Integrated Financial Information System into the First Bank Account of Monday Adejo, knowing the funds were proceeds of corruption and fraud, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 15 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended).”

ICPC’s prosecutor, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, presented evidence of Waziri’s fraudulent activities during the trial.

Justice Abdulgafar sentenced Waziri to one year in prison or a ₦200,000 fine on two counts, one year without an option of a fine on three counts, and three years or a ₦500,000 fine on two other counts. The sentences will run concurrently.