touchaheart Nigeria reports that Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, two PDP leaders in Bauchi State, were found guilty and given two-year prison terms by the Federal High Court in Bauchi for crimes that involved conspiracy and the laundering of N142,460,000 in money.
On March 2, Justice Hassan Dikko found the two defendants guilty of the two charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In a statement that our correspondent was able to receive on Saturday, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s head of media and publicity, disclosed these.
The defendants were charged with collecting more than N142 million to sway the results of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State, according to Uwujaren, who stated that they were initially arraigned on June 4, 2018, and then again on October 16, 2018.
That you, Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the People’s Democratic Party 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities occasionally in March 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did agree among yourselves to commit an offence, namely Conspiracy to accept cash payment exceeding the threshold provided by law, thereby committed an offence contrary to S.
The defendants entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations, the anti-graft agency’s spokesperson added, clearing the way for a full trial to be held in the matter.
The prosecution called one witness during the trial and offered exhibits A1, A2, and A3 of papers. In support of each defense, both defendants gave testimony.
On January 17, 2023, the final written addresses were submitted, exchanged, and adopted following the conclusion of the evidence, with the prosecution requesting that the defendants be found guilty on all charges.
The defense, on the other hand, argued that the prosecution’s case against the defendants lacked credibility and urged the judge to exonerate and acquit the prisoners. The verdict was then postponed to March 2, 2023 by Judge Dikko.
“In the well-considered judgment that lasted more than three hours, Justice Dikko reviewed the facts of the case and the submissions of counsel and arrived at the conclusion that the prosecution proved the cases against the defendants on count one beyond a reasonable doubt and found them guilty as charged,” Uwujaren said.
On count two, he released and found no fault with the second defendant.
Justice Dikko stated
“There can be no other conclusion but that the defendants conspired to so commit the offence and I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt. This is evidenced by the fact that the defendants in this instant case endorsed exhibit A1, A2, and A3 to receive cash to the tune of N142,460,000 well in excess of the legal threshold designated by law.
It is pretty astounding that the defendants entirely ignored the devastating evidence included in exhibits A1, A2, and A3, which was available for the court to review, in their defense of the count. The first and second defendants are so found guilty of conspiracy as alleged in court one and are thus found guilty.
