ICPC: Court jail former special adviser for N6.3m Hajj fraud in Kaduna

Technocrat Media, Kaduna

Hassan Dauda, a former special adviser to the chairman of Giwa local government area of Kaduna state has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment.

Mr Dauda was jailed for his involvement in an N6.3 million Hajj fraud.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Dauda before the Kaduna State High Court after he was accused of defrauding eight persons of N6,342,000.

ICPC had arrested the convict in October 2013 receiving a petition of his alleged corrupt act and was arraigned in May 2015 after investigations were concluded on the matter.

The anti-graft commission in a 16-count charge including obtaining by false pretense, abuse of office, and forgery filed before Justice M. T. Aliyu, accused Dauda of using his public office as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of Giwa Local Government Area to defraud unsuspecting victims in the guise of securing Hajj seats for them in 2013, an offence punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

In his ruling, Justice Aliyu found Mr Dauda guilty on the counts relating to obtaining by false pretense and sentenced him to seven (7) years without an option of a fine.

He was also convicted on the counts relating to abuse of office and sentenced to another five (5) years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

However, the court discharged and acquitted him on the counts relating to forgery.

Justice Aliyu stated that ICPC was able to establish and prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

He added that the sentence will run concurrently.