Justice Muhammad Maina of the Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, on Monday, August 4, 2025, convicted and sentenced Alhaji Mala Gana, a local businessman, to three years imprisonment for criminal misappropriation of funds totaling ₦2,360,000.00.
The case was prosecuted by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which arraigned Gana on a one-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and misappropriation.
Details of the Charge
According to the EFCC, the defendant was entrusted in 2022 with the said amount by one Alhaji Goni Umar as investment capital for the supply of food items, including groundnut and palm oil. Instead, Gana allegedly diverted the funds for personal use.
The charge reads in part:
> “That you, Alhaji Mala Gana, sometime in 2022 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit; ₦2,360,000.00 by one Alhaji Goni Umar, as his investment for the supply of food items, did dishonestly misappropriate the said sum and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under Section 312 of the same law.”
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Although Gana initially pleaded not guilty when first arraigned on March 19, 2025, his counsel, A. Sale, requested a re-reading of the charge during Monday’s hearing. Upon re-arraignment, the defendant changed his plea to guilty.
The prosecution counsel, S.O. Saka, urged the court to convict him accordingly. Sale informed the court that the defendant had restituted the entire sum to the complainant.
Justice Maina, in his ruling, convicted the defendant and sentenced him to three years in prison, with an option of a ₦200,000 fine. The judge noted that full restitution was considered in mitigation of the sentence.
EFCC's Continued Crackdown
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to prosecuting cases of financial crime and abuse of trust, particularly in commercial arrangements involving public and private individuals. The case of Alhaji Gana highlights the risks of investment fraud and the importance of enforcing accountability.
---
📡 For updates on legal matters, anti-corruption efforts, and justice administration across Nigeria, visit:
🌐 www.stonereportersnews.com
📢 @StoneReporters – Justice. Accountability. Truth.
Add comment
Comments