KEBBI, Nigeria — Muhammed Nuhu, a dismissed lecturer of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Kebbi State High Court on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, for a corruption scandal that has rocked the educational institution.
Nuhu was convicted on the grounds of self-dealing corruption, involving a sum of Six Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Four Hundred Naira (N6,173,400), belonging to the Polytechnic, as declared by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
The conviction follows a four-count charge in a trial that lasted two years. “Mr. Nuhu, a dismissed academic staff of the Polytechnic, conferred corrupt advantage on himself when he converted into personal use 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,” detailed Mrs Azuka Ogugua, spokesperson for the anti-corruption Commission.
The diverted funds were earmarked as a special grant for attending an International Conference in Aberdeen, United Kingdom, and for pursuing a Ph.D. Programme at the University of Technology Malaysia.
Nuhu, however, did not embark on the mentioned programmes and instead used the money for personal ends.
“His action was contrary to, and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 as well as Section 311 of the Penal Code, and punishable under Section 312 of the Penal Code Law (Cap 89) Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963,” said Mr. Mashkur Salisu, counsel to ICPC.
The court found Nuhu guilty on the first three counts and dismissed the fourth.
He was sentenced to five years imprisonment for each count, to be served concurrently.
Nuhu has also been ordered to make a restitution of the sum of Six Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N6,500,000:00) to the federal government.
The case has drawn national attention to the issue of corruption within educational institutions, and reaffirms the ongoing commitment of the ICPC and Nigerian judicial system to hold accountable those who misuse public funds.
