Ex – EFCC Employee Steals Commission’s Exhibits

A former employee of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Hussaini Abubakar, alleged to have stolen exhibits from the Forensic Section of the commission, has bagged one-year jail term.

Abubakar, who was convicted and sentenced by Justice S.C Amadi of the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt was, however given an option of a fine of N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).

According to a statement posted on the Facebook page of the EFCC on Thursday, the convict’s action is contrary to Section 383 (1) and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code CAP 37 vol. 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.

The defendant was arraigned by the EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office on a three-count charge, bordering on stealing.

Count One of the charge reads: “That you, Hussaina Abubakar, in 2017 at Port Harcourt  in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division did fraudulently steal an exhibit from the Forensic Section of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, an exhibit which you knew was recovered in the course of investigation to wit: One Lenevo S60-A (daul sim)  with serial number: HBOGOHAQ with IME slot number: 1-866059026043140, worth N18,000 (Eighteen Thousand Naira), belonging to one Chuku Nelson Nyegam and thereby committed an offence.”

The defendant pleaded guilty to all the charges, prompting prosecuting counsel, N. A. Dodo to urge the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

However, defence counsel  M. M Suleiman prayed the court  to temper justice with mercy, having been found to be a first time offender and with no previous conviction record, and taking into consideration that the defendant is an orphan, a married man and a father of a 15-months baby and a bread winner for his family.