AMILOADED MEDIA HUB NEWS UPDATE
Two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State, Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, have been sentenced to two years in prison over an attempt to influence the 2015 election.
Justice Hassan Dikko of a Federal High Court in Bauchi convicted and jailed the duo on a two-count of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N142,460,000 proffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Saturday, said Justice Dikko convicted the duo on March 2.
He noted that the defendants were first arraigned on June 4, 2018 and re-arraigned on October 16, 2018 on a two-count for allegedly receiving over N142 million to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State.
Count one of the charge read, “That you, Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities sometimes in March 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did agree amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit; Conspiracy to accept cash payment exceeding the threshold provided by law, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012( as amended) now No.1, 2012.”
Count two read, “That you, Sale Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the peoples ‘Democratic Party 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities sometime in March 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did accept cash payment of N142,460,000m from the Directorate of Finance, Bauchi State PDP Campaign Organisation exceeding the required threshold of cash payment, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1, 16(1)(d) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition)Act, 2011 (as amended) now No.1, 2012”.
The spokesperson for the anti-graft agency further noted that the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, setting the stage for the case to proceed to full trial.
Before sentencing the defendants, Justice Dikko acknowledged their pleas for leniency but insisted that they must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
He said, “I consider your pleas that you have a family who will suffer in your absence thus I will be lenient, however, your offences must be punished appropriately to deter others in the society from perpetrating the same.”
He consequently sentenced the first and second defendants to two years imprisonment at the Bauchi Correctional Service or a fine of N3 million each in lieu of imprisonment on count one; while the first defendant bagged a further two years imprisonment or a fine of N3 million in lieu of imprisonment on count two.
The sentences are to run concurrently from March 2, 2023.
(Punch)
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