The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Aisha A. Wakil, also known as Mama Boko Haram, along with Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Soyade. They have been sentenced to ten years imprisonment by Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri for their involvement in a N40 million fraud scheme.
The trio faced charges of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses related to a contract for the supply of X-ray machines and solar energy to a non-governmental organization. The prosecution presented evidence showing that they failed to fulfill the contract obligations, leading to their conviction.
During the trial, the defendants pleaded not guilty, but the court found them guilty as charged based on the evidence presented. In addition to the prison sentence, they have been ordered to pay restitution of N40 million to the petitioner.
This latest conviction adds to Mama Boko Haram’s previous legal troubles. In December 2022, she was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for similar fraud. Prior to that, she had accumulated several convictions, including a 7-year sentence in September 2022, another 7-year sentence in August 2022, and a 5-year sentence in June 2022, all related to different fraudulent schemes.
Justice Fadawu specified that the latest sentence will run concurrently with any existing prison terms imposed on the defendants. This verdict underscores the commitment of the Nigerian judiciary to combatting financial crimes and ensuring justice for victims of fraud.
