Hajj agent jailled six years for N1.5m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday secured the conviction of one Mallam Kabiru Jibrin before Justice Joseph Awak of Gombe State High Court after he was found guilty of a three-count charge bordering on obtaining N1.5 million by false pretence.

The complainant, Aliyu Audu Awwal, had alleged that the convict defrauded him and one Mallam Hussani Kumo, of the sum on the pretext that the said amount will be used to secure Hajj seats for them but diverted the money for his personal use.

Kumo also alleged that the convict collected his Honda Accord car(2005 model) under the guise that he would sell the car and use the proceed to secure additional Hajj seats which he never did. The convict pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him. Count three of the charge reads,

“That you, Mallam Kabiru Jibrin (m) sometime in September, 2013 or thereabout in Gombe, Gombe State which is within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court falsely pretended to be a Hajj agent and dishonestly induced one Aliyu Audu Awwal to give you the cummulative sum of (N810,000.000), eight hundred and ten thousand naira only through your UBA Acct.No:1005433707 under the false believe that the money will be used to secure a Hajj seat for him to enable him perform the 2013 Hajj and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of Northern Nigeria”.

In view of the plea of the convict, Justice Awak after taking cognizance the fact that the convict had paid the whole money back to the complainant, convicted and sentenced him to six years imprisonment with an option of N60,000 fine.

Vanguard