Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri on Wednesday sentenced Aisha Alkali Wakil, popularly known as “Mama Boko Haram,” along with Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, to 14 years imprisonment each for fraud.
The conviction was confirmed in a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and signed by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
The trio was arraigned by the EFCC’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate on September 14, 2020, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining ₦11 million by false pretence.
According to one of the charges, the defendants — acting under the guise of their roles as CEO, Programme Manager, and Country Director of the NGO Complete Care and Aids Foundation — obtained the money from one Muhammed Ambare under the pretext of supplying and installing two X-Ray machines. The transaction was never fulfilled, and the money was not returned.
Although the defendants pleaded not guilty, the EFCC prosecution team, led by Mukhtar Ali Ahmed and S. O. Saka, presented compelling evidence, including documents and a witness testimony.
After a prolonged trial marked by several adjournments at the defendants’ request, Justice Kumaliya found them guilty and sentenced each to seven years on each of the two counts, to run concurrently.
The court also ordered the convicts to jointly pay ₦8 million in restitution to the petitioner or face an additional seven years behind bars.
Their conviction stems from a fraudulent contract scheme involving the supply and servicing of medical equipment. The sum of ₦11 million was transferred to a third party, Saidu Muktar, who remains at large, and the contract was never executed.
What you should know
Aisha Wakil, once known for her peace advocacy with Boko Haram, has now been convicted alongside her NGO partners for defrauding a businessman under false pretences. The court has ruled for both jail time and financial restitution.
