Kano Anti-Graft Agency Achieves Conviction of Impersonator

On Monday, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission declared that it had successfully convicted two offenders who had cheated former Minister Alhaji A.T. Gwarzo and senior statesman Alhaji Aminu Dantata.

The panel also retrieved N5 million, including N1 million that belonged to the former minister, that the convicted individuals had stolen from the business magnate. Prosecution attorney Zahraddeen Hamisu Kofarmata briefed reporters soon after the court hearing, explaining that Sulyman Ahmed and Bukar Galadima had planned and carried out a scheme to cheat their victims.

Bukar Galadima pretended to be ill in order to get medical help from Aminu Dantata, posing as former FCT Minister Mohammed Abba Gana.

After requesting N5 million for treatment, Dantata asked him to submit his account information.

Galadima instead sent his wife’s information, Sadiyya Abba.The businessman then funded the account with N5 million to cover the alleged medical costs.

The primary offender, who lived in Kano, then transferred N500,000 to his Abuja-based accomplice while keeping N4.5 million for himself. Dantata later discovered he had been duped when he called the former minister to enquire about his health.

He then reported the incident to the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, which opened an investigation.

After being taken into custody, the two suspects were sent to Kano’s Magistrates’ Court No. 24.

Last Thursday, the Chief Magistrate gave each of the scammers a four-year prison sentence.

The two were accused with cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and impersonation.

Both entered guilty pleas to each of the four offences after reading the First Information Report. In accordance with Section 129(8) of the ACJL 2019, prosecution attorney Barr. Zahraddeen Hamisu Kofarmata asked for a summary trial.

After a trial, the defendants were found guilty.

The defendants received sentences of six months in prison for criminal conspiracy (or a fine of N30,000 each), three months in prison for impersonation (or a fine of N20,000 each), one year in prison for cheating (or a fine of N30,000 each), and six months in prison for criminal breach of trust (or a fine of N20,000 each) from Presiding Chief Magistrate Umma Sani Kurawa.

At the request of the prosecution attorney, they were also ordered to pay N5 million in compensation or risk an additional two years in prison. Additionally, the two offenders defrauded Alhaji A.T. Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing, of N1 million using similar methods.

The commission pointed out that the fraud was found throughout the investigation, even though the former minister had not filed a formal complaint.

The stolen money was recovered by the commission and will be given back to Aminu Dantata and Alhaji A.T. Gwarzo. Additionally, both prisoners had to sign a bond for good conduct.