When politicians who are elected into public offices to serve the people, begins to steal from the people, one cannot, but wonder, what type of politicians they are.
Now a former Yobe auditor-general is paying the price for dipping his hands into the public purse.
The auditor-general of Yobe State, Idris Yahaya is not in prison and he will spend 5 years there for a ₦19,900,000 fraud.
A High Court sitting in the state found Yahaya guilty on a one-count charge of criminal misappropriation.
Diverting Public Funds
Yahaya on November 9, 2022 appeared in court for the first time but he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday says the auditor-general received money for the purchase of an official vehicle.
He was to purchase a Toyota Corolla model 2015.
However, he diverted part of the money to his personal use.
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In a statement after the former auditors sentencing, the EFCC said the crime was committed in 2017.
“That you, Yahaya Lawal Idris, being the Auditor General for Local Government, Yobe State, between the 20th to 21st day of May 2017 at Damaturu, Yobe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, received the sum of ₦19,900,000.00 via your personal account number 1001480930 with account name Alhaji Yahaya Idris domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) from the Local Government Audit Account Number 5030030060 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc”.
The money was “for the purchase of a brand new Toyota Corolla 2015 Model, did dishonestly misappropriated the gross sum of ₦10,100,000.00 (Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira) only”.
Convicted As Charged
The presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Lawan, in his ruling says the prosecution successfully proved its case against the Yobe auditor-general.
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The court convicts the defendant as charged.
Afterwards, Lawan directed the auditor-general to pay the sum of ₦10,100,000 in restitution to the Yobe state government through the EFCC.
Failure to do so, will attract additional two years in prison.
