JUSTICE Sale Former House of Representatives member Mansur Ali Mashi was found guilty by Musa Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
After a protracted 12-year trial that included allegations of conspiracy and obtaining by deception, the defendant was found guilty. Three bank employees, Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu, and Muazu Abdu, were also found guilty in addition to Mashi.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission filed charges against Mashi, alleging that he obtained a loan facility from Sterling Bank for N212,439,552 by means of false companies. Mashi then used the money for personal expenses, which resulted in his being found guilty on eight counts of fraud.
All of the defendants entered not guilty pleas when they were first brought before the court. The trial went forward, but there were several setbacks because the trial judges retired or were promoted. Despite these obstacles, the prosecution was still able to present a number of exhibits and call six witnesses to support their case.
Both parties turned in their final written addresses on the last date of adjournment. On June 15 and 16, 2023, the case was continued with the expectation that the judge would issue a decision.
The court reconvened on June 15, 2023, but the first and fourth defendants were not present. In spite of their absence, the judge found the first defendant guilty on counts 1 through 8, and he was sentenced as a result. The fourth defendant was also convicted and found guilty on all charges.
Both defendants’ sentences, however, were postponed until they could be apprehended and brought before the court.
The former branch manager of Sterling Bank, Abdulmumin Mustapha, was found guilty on counts 1 through 15 and given five years in prison without the possibility of a fine on each count. Additionally, the court mandated that Mustapha repay Sterling Bank N40,000,000.
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The third defendant, who was the bank’s former head of operations, was exonerated on counts 1–8, but found guilty on counts 9–15. Additionally, he received a five-year prison term without the possibility of a fine for each count.
On June 16, 2023, Mansur Ali Mashi, the first defendant, will receive a ruling in a separate case of contempt of court. Mashi is accused in this case of selling assets that the court had taken through an interim forfeiture order from him.
