BEVERLY HILLS, November 16, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Kano, 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’s woe began when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) received a petition that the 68-year-old Kano Lawyer allegedly duped two of his clients to the tune of N50million from part of the money he recovered for his client in a case they filed against Ministry of Solid Minerals where the convict represented them.
The petition alleged Na-Allah, after winning the case and recovering the sum of N90 million gave his client only N30 million and converted the rest of the money, N50 million, to his personal use.
The commission investigated the petition and discovered that the lawyer used part of the proceeds to acquire a palatial mansion in Sharada area of Kano.
He was then was arraigned by the EFCC on 14 January, 2013 on a two count charge of money laundering.
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.
In his judgment, Justice Fatu Riman ruled that the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and found him guilty of laundering N50million.
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.
Story by Oputah David
