Muhammed Sani Nuhu, a former staff member at Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic in Kebbi State, has been sentenced to five years in prison for fraudulently appropriating over N6 million belonging to the polytechnic.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully prosecuted the case, resulting in Nuhu’s conviction.

The ICPC’s spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, stated that Nuhu was charged with four counts before Hon. Justice Hassan Usman of the Kebbi State High Court.

The Commission alleged that Nuhu dishonestly benefited himself by converting the sums of “two million Naira (N2,000,000:00) in 2015 and four million, one hundred and seventy-three thousand, four hundred Naira (N4,173,400:00) in 2016” for personal use.

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Investigation revealed that Nuhu, who had been dismissed from his position, received these funds as part of a special grant to attend an international conference in the United Kingdom and for his Doctor of Philosophy program at the University of Technology Malaysia.

He failed to fulfill his obligations and instead diverted the money for personal gain.

During the two-year trial, the ICPC’s counsel, Mashkur Salisu, presented the case, citing Nuhu’s violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, as well as Section 311 and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Law (Cap 89) Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.

The judge found Nuhu guilty on counts one to three, while count four was dismissed. Consequently, Justice Usman sentenced him to five years in prison for each of the three counts.

The court ordered Nuhu to make restitution of the sum of N6.5 million, which represented the proceeds of his crime, to the Federal Government. The sentences are to be served concurrently.